For Immediate Release:
 June 09, 2008

Media Contact:
Sonya M. Perez
soperez@miamidade.gov
 305-375-4942



Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department Wins Two National Consumer Awards


(Miami-Dade County, FL) -- The Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department won awards in two categories during the 2008 Achievement in Consumer Education (ACE) Awards held in Dallas last week.  The recognitions are given by the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators for developing creative programs of value to the community. The Consumer Services Department was honored for creating the television show Consumer Sense, and for implementing a program to monitor the towing industry to increase compliance with local consumer protection laws.

The Consumer Sense television program was designed to educate the public on a wide range of consumer protection-related issues and promote the services of the Consumer Services Department.  The goal was to increase consumer savvy, help the public avoid common problems found in the marketplace and provide resources for consumers to address their grievances.  In all, 20 shows were produced and aired in 2007.

The award presented for the towing program was a result of the department’s year-long efforts to correct violations by vehicle tow operators.  In 2006-2007, the department launched an investigation to address towing-related problems.  It revealed that there were towers operating without a registration, proper manifest or trip record, or properly securing vehicles during tow.  Other violations included towing without proper authorization from a private property owner, overcharging and not properly posting tow-away signs.  The department obtained $88,741 in reimbursements for consumers who were overcharged.  It also issued $85,481 in citations to towing companies for various infractions.  In order to make the program more comprehensive, Miami-Dade County Consumer Services partnered with local law enforcement agencies and held training sessions on towing laws.  These sessions were designed to familiarize law enforcement officials with the County’s Towing Ordinance and applicable enforcement strategies.  Attending the sessions were the Florida Highway Patrol, Miami-Dade Police Department and City of Miami Police Department.

The Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department investigates and mediates consumer complaints, enforces the County's consumer protection laws and business regulations, and licenses certain businesses.  For information on consumer protection laws and department services, log on to www.miamidade.gov/csd or call the Consumer Mediation Center at (305) 375-3677. 

It is the policy of Miami-Dade County to comply with all of the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. For information about materials in accessible format, please call 305-375-4942.

 ACE Award
Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department Director Cathy Grimes Peel celebrates the department’s 2008 Achievement in Consumer Education Awards with Consumer Advocate Leonard Elias, Esq., host of the award-winning Consumer Sense television show.  The department received two awards from the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators for developing creative programs of value to the community, including Consumer Sense and a towing investigation that refunded consumers $88,741.


 

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CONSUMER SERVICES DEPARTMENT