In the State of Florida, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) has a direct effect in most residents' lives, as well as on the experience of many visitors. The overall mission of the department is to keep Florida's highways safe, and it does that through education and enforcement.

The DHSMV is made up of three distinct offices, explained below.

Top Division of Motor Vehicles

While best known for automobile tags and registration, the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is also responsible for titling and registering thousands of boats and mobile homes throughout the state. It also protects the consumer public by monitoring and regulating auto, mobile home, and recreational vehicle dealers in every county. Compliance examiners ensure that each dealer is following legal business requirements, and they also investigate any consumer complaints against
those dealers.

DMV Facts and Figures

It's estimated that during 2005, the Florida DMV processed:

• 13,715,866 automobile registrations

• 1,15,846 new vehicle titles

• 5,100 consumer complaint investigations

Top Division of Driver Licenses

The scope of the Division of Driver Licenses (DDL) is quite large, spreading far beyond the obvious responsibility of educating drivers and issuing licenses. The department also oversees organ donor and voter registration applicants, and maintains an enormous database holding all information on traffic citations and driver records for all Florida residents. The DDL also administers the state's insurance laws, and deals with drivers who do not comply.

DDL Facts and Figures

In 2005, it's estimated that the DDL processed:

• 5,098,771 driver license applications (new, renewals, and replacements)

• 4,657,541 traffic citations

• 1,200,000 financial responsibility cases

Top Florida Highway Patrol

The law enforcement arm of the department is responsible for being out on the streets, ensuring that drivers and highways stay safe. It investigates highway-related crimes, and maintains authority at road accidents throughout the state.

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