Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins and Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller Juan Fernandez-Barquin are set Monday to formally launch a countywide initiative to help individuals reinstate their driver’s licenses.
Fernandez-Barquin’s Office is running Operation Green Light from April 6-19. Operation Green Light targets residents with overdue traffic tickets, parking violations and other court obligations that have pushed them into collections or contributed to driver’s license suspensions.
During the event window, collection fees are waived, and the Clerk’s Office is making sure the process is accessible. Online payments are available 24 hours a day, as are phone lines for case and citation questions. In-person service will also run weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Clerk locations across the county.
The kickoff event will take place Monday at the Joseph Caleb Justice Center at 11 a.m. In addition to Higgins and Fernandez-Barquin, other officials scheduled to be on hand include Miami-Dade County Commissioner Keon Hardemon and Miami Commission Chair Christine King, among others.
Those with suspended licenses often face challenges with employment, finding child care and other vital tasks. That’s especially a problem in Miami-Dade County, where many residents rely on cars to get around.
Fernandez-Barquin framed the initiative as a practical reset for people who have fallen behind but want a way back into compliance.
“Operation Green Light is about giving our residents a second chance,” Fernandez-Barquin said. “By removing financial barriers and simplifying the process, we are helping individuals get back on the road legally, return to work, and support their families. I encourage everyone with outstanding obligations to take advantage of this opportunity.”
The program does come with important fine print. Late fees still apply, even while collection fees are waived, and residents may not qualify if they have outstanding violations in other Florida counties or suspensions unrelated to nonpayment. Still, the Office says participants can save an average of about 30% on eligible cases, a potentially meaningful break for people dealing with stacked fines and overdue court costs.
Past demand suggests plenty of residents will see value in the offer. During a 17-day 2023 Operation Green Light run in Miami-Dade, the Clerk and Comptroller’s Office reported helping more than 5,700 customers, waiving more than $275,000 in collection fees, making more than 1,500 people eligible for reinstatement and setting up more than 1,300 payment plans.
