Summary

The audit of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (Department) focused primarily on the creation of new specialty license plates and acquisitions of commodities and services.  The audit included the period July 2004 through June 2006.  As summarized below, improvements in Department procedures are needed, and some statutory changes are suggested.

Finding No. 1:   The Department did not in a timely manner complete its determination of whether organizations seeking authorization to create a new specialty license plate met the requirements in law.

Finding No. 2:   Contrary to Department procedures, two specialty license plate survey organizations did not draw samples from all households in Florida.  Contrary to law, those performing one of these surveys were not independent of the organization requesting the license plate.

Finding No. 3:    Improvements could be made in the Department’s review and evaluation of the results of specialty license plate sample surveys.

Finding No. 4:     Improvements could be made in the Department’s procurement procedures.

Finding No. 5:    For the 2004-05 and 2005-06 fiscal years, a more proactive approach to investing the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund moneys could have provided additional annual interest earnings in excess of $567,000 and $407,000, respectively.

Finding No. 6:     Section 20.24, Florida Statutes, should be amended to eliminate the reference to the Bureau of Motor Vehicle Inspection.

The Executive Director's response is included in its entirety at the end of this report as Appendix D.