Florida insurance news, Oct. 29, 2026: two arrests over business coverage that never existed, a trooper hurt by a driver who didn’t move over, changes to Citizens online payments, and the king tide winds down before a stormy weekend
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Four updates for South Florida homeowners, drivers and small-business owners. Each item is summarized in our own words, with a link to the original source.
1.Two men arrested after a construction company paid for business coverage that was never active
Florida’s Department of Financial Services announced on Oct. 27 the arrests of two men after a construction company turned over two certificates of insurance to a state compliance officer; the insurer named on them confirmed the policies had never been active, even though the owner had paid $10,500 in premium. Investigators say the man who sold the coverage has been permanently barred from holding an insurance license since 2002 and worked out of another man’s agency, where the agent-in-charge allegedly knew this and let him collect premiums without providing real coverage. The charges include racketeering conspiracy, organized scheme to defraud and grand theft, and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office is handling the case; the charges are allegations until proven in court.
Why it matters for you: Before you pay for a business policy, look up the agent on the Florida DFS licensee search, pay the insurer or the licensed agency directly, and ask for the policy documents, not only a certificate. If a customer or general contractor relies on your certificate, it’s fair for them to confirm it with the insurer; our guide to certificates of insurance for contractors explains how. Suspected insurance fraud can be reported to DFS at 1-800-378-0445.
2.Update: A trooper is seriously hurt after a driver fails to move over in a work zone, and Florida counted 215 Move Over crashes in 2025
The Florida Highway Patrol says a pickup truck hit the back of a trooper’s patrol car at about 9:12 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, on State Road 429 in Orange County, where the car was stopped with its emergency lights on as part of a lane closure in a construction zone. The trooper was airlifted with serious injuries and is in stable condition, the driver had non-life-threatening injuries, and charges are pending. FLHSMV reports that in 2025 Florida had 215 crashes and issued more than 17,300 citations for failing to move over. The law requires drivers to move over a lane for stopped emergency, service, utility and disabled vehicles, or slow to 20 mph below the speed limit when they can’t, and since Jan. 1, 2025, it also covers any vehicle on the roadside with hazard lights, flares or emergency signage.
Why it matters for you: A Move Over violation means a fine, fees and points on your license, and points or an at-fault crash can affect what your auto insurer charges at renewal. With longer, darker evenings ahead, our new guide to Florida’s headlight and Move Over laws covers what the law expects at night.
Source: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles,
3.Citizens policyholders: online payments have changed, and saved payment methods won’t carry over
Citizens has updated how policyholders pay online through its myPolicy portal and one-time payments, according to its Oct. 15 notice. Card payments can now be split between two cards; policyholders on semiannual or quarterly plans can pay more than the minimum due, up to the full amount owed, but any extra is applied to future balances and is not refundable while the policy stays in force; and payment methods saved in myPolicy before the change will not carry over, so they must be entered again. Payments made by phone post the next calendar day, and the payment vendor adds a 2.99% processing fee to each credit or debit card used. Citizens says it is emailing policyholders who have an email address on file, pay Citizens directly and renew between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2026; everyone else will be notified in December.
Why it matters for you: If you pay your Citizens policy yourself rather than through your mortgage escrow, log in a few days before your due date, re-enter your payment method and keep the receipt so the payment isn’t late. If you have questions about your Citizens policy or a takeout offer, see our page on Citizens insurance with a local agent.
4.Update: The king tide advisory ends tonight in Miami-Dade, the Keys stay under a warning until Friday, and storms are likely Sunday and Monday
The National Weather Service in Miami says the Coastal Flood Advisory for moderate flooding along coastal Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach runs until 8 p.m. Thursday, and Thursday morning’s forecast discussion expects moderate to major flooding at today’s high tides, noting that tide gauges keep running above forecasts, with moderate flooding into the end of the week. In the Florida Keys, the warning for major saltwater flooding runs until 5 a.m. Friday. After only a few showers through Friday, forecasters expect a wetter weekend, with scattered to numerous afternoon showers and thunderstorms on Sunday and Monday that could bring frequent lightning, gusty winds and locally heavy rain.
Why it matters for you: Keep cars out of salt water and away from low spots; flood and storm damage to a car falls under comprehensive coverage (comprehensive vs. collision). Wind or lightning damage to a home is usually a homeowners claim subject to your deductible, while rising water needs a separate flood policy that usually starts 30 days after purchase; Miami-Dade County lists the next king tide windows as Nov. 6–9 and Nov. 23–26.
Source: National Weather Service Miami,
Source: National Weather Service Miami,
Source: National Weather Service Key West,
Source: Miami-Dade County,
Also this week
The National Hurricane Center does not expect any tropical cyclone to form in the next seven days (8 a.m. Thursday outlook). The National Flood Insurance Program remains authorized only through 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 11, 2026, and FEMA’s reauthorization page shows no newer extension; if it lapses, existing policies stay in force, but new policies and renewals can’t be issued.
This roundup is general information, not legal advice or policy language. Each item is our own short summary of the linked original report; details can change after publication, so check the source for the full story. Coverage depends on the terms, limits and exclusions of your policy. Talk with a licensed agent about your situation.