FLHSMV
FLORIDA HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES

Terry L. Rhodes
Executive Director 

2900 Apalachee Parkway
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0500
www.flhsmv.gov 

Tropical Depression Fred
Emergency Order 081421
(Pursuant to Executive Order 21-190)

On August 13, 2021, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 21-190 providing the Executive Director of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) authorization to:

• Suspend enforcement of the registration requirements pursuant to sections 316.545(4) and 320.0715, Florida Statutes, for commercial motor vehicles that enter Florida to provide emergency services or supplies, to transport emergency equipment, supplies, or personnel, or to transport FEMA mobile homes or office style mobile homes into or from Florida;
• Waive the hours of service requirements for such vehicles pursuant to section 316.302, Florida Statutes;
• Suspend the enforcement of the licensing and registration requirements under the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) pursuant to chapter 207, Florida Statutes, and the International Registration Plan (IRP) pursuant to section 320.0715, Florida Statutes, for motor carriers or drivers operating commercial motor vehicles that are properly registered in other jurisdictions and that are participating in emergency relief efforts through the transportation of equipment and supplies or providing other assistance in the form of emergency services;
• Waive fees for duplicate or replacement vessel registration certificates pursuant to section 328.72, Florida Statutes; vessel title certificates pursuant to section 328.11, Florida Statutes; vehicle license plates pursuant to section 320.0607, Florida Statutes; vehicle registration certificates pursuant to section 320.0607, Florida Statutes; vehicle tag certificates pursuant to section 320.0607, Florida Statutes; vehicle title certificates pursuant to section 319.32, Florida Statutes; handicapped parking permits pursuant to section 320.0848, Florida Statutes; and replacement drivers' licenses and replacement identification cards pursuant to section 322.21, Florida Statutes; and to waive the additional fees for the late renewal of or application for such licenses, certificates, and documents due to the effects of adverse weather conditions; and,
• Defer administrative actions pursuant to chapters 207, 316, 319, 320, 322 and 328, Florida Statutes, and waive fees imposed by law as identified above and including sections 319.23, 320.07, 322.18, 322.21, and 328.72, Florida Statutes, for the late renewal or application for the above licenses, certificates, and documents, which were delayed due to the effects of adverse weather conditions, including in counties wherein the DHSMV has closed offices, or any office of the County Tax Collector that acts on behalf of the DHSMV to process renewals has closed offices due to adverse weather conditions.

Recordkeeping and other applicable requirements for existing IFTA and IRP licensees and registrants are not affected by this order. The DHSMV shall promptly notify the State Coordinating Officer when the waiver is no longer necessary.

The authorization above applies to the following counties in the State of Florida: Bay, Calhoun, Citrus, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Manatee, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Taylor, Wakulla, Walton and Washington Counties.

Pursuant to 49 CFR 390.23, motor carriers and drivers operating a commercial motor vehicle to provide emergency relief during an emergency are exempt from 49 CFR Parts 390-399 until September 12, 2021, (thirty days from the date of the Governor’s Executive Order, dated August 13, 2021) under the following conditions and provisions:

• Regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicle operations is granted only in direct assistance while providing emergency relief.   Direct assistance terminates when a driver or commercial motor vehicle is used in commerce to transport cargo or provide services not directly supporting the emergency relief effort.
• Regulatory relief does not extend to controlled substances and alcohol use and testing requirements (49 CFR Part 382), commercial driver's license requirements (49 CFR Part 383), financial responsibility (insurance) requirements (49 CFR Part 387), applicable size and weight requirements, or any other portion of the regulations not specifically authorized pursuant 49 CFR 390.23.
• Regulatory relief does not extend to provisions of 49 CFR 392 addressed by statutes to include: operating in accordance with state traffic laws and the driver’s ability to remain alert, attentive and
• free of impairment, fatigue, illness, distraction or similar cause that would reduce the driver’s ability to safely operate the commercial motor vehicle.
• 49 CFR Part 395 related to the preparation, retention, and accuracy of a driver's record of duty status (RODS). Drivers are directed to note "Emergency Declaration" in the remarks section of the RODS to identify that their operation is in direct assistance to the emergency relief.
• A motor carrier whose driver is involved in a crash while operating under this emergency declaration must comply with state laws for reporting the crash and report any recordable crash within 24 hours to the FMCSA Division Office where the motor carrier is domiciled in writing by e-mail to MCFLOFF@dot.gov. The carrier must report date, time, location, driver and vehicle identification and a brief description of the crash. Intrastate carriers may report recordable crashes to FMCSA but are not required to do so.
• Motor carriers or drivers who are directly or indirectly subject to a current Out-of-Service Order are not eligible for the relief granted by this declaration until they have met the applicable conditions for the order’s rescission and the order has been rescinded by the Florida Highway Patrol, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or the jurisdiction that issued the Out-of-Service Order, whichever is applicable.
• Drivers operating commercial motor vehicles for the motor carrier operating under this declaration must maintain a copy of the declaration in their possession.
• Upon termination of direct assistance to the emergency relief effort, the motor carrier and driver are subject to the requirements of 49 CFR Parts 390 through 399, except that a driver may return empty to the motor carrier's terminal or the driver's normal work reporting location under the terms of the declaration. Direct assistance terminates when a driver or commercial motor vehicle is used in commerce to transport cargo not in direct furtherance of the emergency relief efforts. Upon return to the terminal or other location, the driver must be relieved of all duty and responsibilities.
• Upon termination of direct assistance to the emergency relief effort, no motor carrier shall require or permit any driver used by it to drive, nor shall any such driver drive until the driver has met the requirements of 49 CFR 395.3(a) and (c), and 49 CFR 395.5(a) for interstate commerce and s. 316.302, Florida Statutes, for intrastate commerce.

This order shall expire on the earlier of the expiration or rescission of Executive Order 21-190 or 11:59 PM on September 12, 2021, unless extended by me.

Executed this 14th day of August, 2021.

Terry L. Rhodes, Executive Director