5100-5112
VEHICLE CODE
SECTION 5100-5112
5100. The purpose of this article is to provide revenue for the
California Environmental License Plate Fund.
5101. Any person who is the registered owner or lessee of a
passenger vehicle, commercial motor vehicle, motorcycle, trailer, or
semitrailer registered or certificated with the department, or who
makes application for an original registration or renewal
registration of that vehicle, may, upon payment of the fee prescribed
in Section 5106 and those fees required by Sections 5022 to 5024,
inclusive, apply to the department for environmental license plates,
in the manner prescribed in Section 5105, which plates shall be
affixed to the passenger vehicle, commercial motor vehicle,
motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer for which registration is sought
in lieu of the regular license plates.
5101.2. (a) A person otherwise eligible under this article who is a
firefighter or a retired firefighter may apply for special license
plates for a vehicle under this article. License plates issued
pursuant to this section shall be issued in accordance with Section
5060.
(b) The applicant, by satisfactory proof, shall show all of the
following:
(1) The applicant is, or has retired, in good standing as an
officer, an employee, or a member of a fire department or a fire
service of the state, a county, a city, a district, or any other
political subdivision of the state, whether in a volunteer, partly
paid, or fully paid status.
(2) The applicant is, or was until retirement, regularly employed
as a firefighter or regularly enrolled as a volunteer firefighter.
(3) The applicant's principal duties fall, or fell until
retirement, within the scope of active firefighting and any of the
following activities:
(A) Fire prevention service.
(B) Fire training.
(C) Hazardous materials abatement.
(D) Arson investigation.
(E) Emergency medical services.
(c) The special license plates issued under this section shall
contain the words "California Firefighter" and shall run in a regular
numerical series.
(d) In addition to the regular fees for an original registration,
a renewal of registration, or a transfer of registration, the
following special license plate fees shall be paid:
(1) A fee of fifty dollars ($50) for the initial issuance of the
special license plates. These special license plates shall be
permanent and shall not be required to be replaced.
(2) A fee of thirty-five dollars ($35) for each renewal of
registration that includes the continued display of the special
license plates.
(3) If the special license plates become damaged or unserviceable,
a fee of thirty-five dollars ($35) for the replacement of the
special license plates, obtained from the department upon proper
application therefor.
(4) A fee of fifteen dollars ($15) for the transfer of the special
license plates to another vehicle qualifying as a vehicle owned by a
firefighter who has met the requirements set forth in subdivision
(b).
(5) In addition, for the issuance of environmental license plates,
as defined in Section 5103, with the special firefighter personal
vehicle license plates and distinctive design or decal, the
additional fees prescribed in Sections 5106 and 5108. The additional
fees collected pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited in the
California Environmental License Plate Fund.
(e) (1) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates
pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the
special license plates. Except as provided in paragraph (2), upon the
death of the surviving spouse, the plates shall be returned to the
department or destroyed within 60 days after the death of the
surviving spouse or upon the expiration of the vehicle registration,
whichever occurs first.
(2) In the absence of a surviving spouse or where the surviving
spouse dies while in possession of the special license plates, a
member of the deceased firefighter's family may retain one of the
special license plates as a family heirloom, subject to the
conditions set forth in subdivision (f).
(f) The special license plates issued under this section are not
valid for use for vehicle registration purposes by a person other
than the person issued the special license plates under subdivision
(a) and the surviving spouse of that person.
(g) For purposes of this section, "family" means grandparents,
stepgrandparents, parents, stepparents, siblings, stepsiblings,
stepchildren, natural-born children, or adopted children of the
person issued the special license plates under subdivision (a).
(h) Except as provided in paragraph (5) of subdivision (d), the
revenues derived from the additional special fees provided in this
section, less costs incurred by the department pursuant to this
section, shall be deposited in the California Firefighters' Memorial
Fund established by Section 18802 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
5101.3. (a) Any person otherwise eligible under this article who
qualifies under subdivision (b) may apply for special license plates
that shall run in a separate numerical series and shall contain the
words "Pearl Harbor Survivor." The plates may be issued for any
vehicle, except a vehicle used for transportation for hire,
compensation, or profit, or a motorcycle, which is owned or coowned
by the person.
(b) To qualify for issuance of the special plates, the applicant
by satisfactory proof shall show all of the following:
(1) The applicant was a member of the United States Armed Forces
on December 7, 1941, and received an honorable discharge from
military service.
(2) The applicant was on station at Pearl Harbor, the Island of
Oahu, or offshore within a distance of three miles, on December 7,
1941, during the hours of 7:55 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., Hawaii time, as
certified by a California chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors
Association.
(c) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates
pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the
special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this
section. Upon the death of the spouse, the retained special license
plates shall be returned to the department either (1) within 60 days
following that death or (2) upon the expiration of the vehicle
registration, whichever occurs first.
(d) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section.
5101.4. (a) Any person otherwise eligible under this article who is
a recipient of the Army Medal of Honor, Navy Medal of Honor, Air
Force Medal of Honor, Army Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross,
or Air Force Cross may apply for special license plates for the
vehicle under this article.
(b) The applicant, by conclusive evidence, shall show that the
applicant is a recipient of one of the nation's highest decorations
for valor, as specified in subdivision (a).
(c) The special license plates issued under this section shall
contain the words "Legion of Valor" and shall run in a regular
numerical series. An adhesive sticker denoting which of the nation's
highest decorations for valor, as specified in subdivision (a), is
held by the applicant shall be affixed in a recess provided for it on
the license plates.
(d) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates
pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the
special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this
section. If there is no surviving spouse, the special license plates
shall be returned to the department either (1) within 60 days
following that death or (2) upon the expiration of the vehicle
registration, whichever occurs first. However, in the absence of a
surviving spouse, another surviving member of the deceased medal
recipient's family may retain one of the special license plates as a
family heirloom, subject to the conditions set forth in subdivision
(g).
(e) If a surviving spouse who has elected to retain the special
license plates as authorized under subdivision (d) dies while in
possession of the special license plates, the special license plates
shall be returned to the department either within 60 days following
that death, or upon the expiration date of the vehicle registration,
whichever date occurs first. However, another surviving member of the
deceased medal recipient's family may retain one of the special
license plates as a family heirloom, subject to the conditions set
forth in subdivision (g).
(f) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section.
(g) The special license plates issued under this section are not
valid for use for vehicle registration purposes or for the purposes
of Section 9105, or Section 10783 or 10783.2 of the Revenue and
Taxation Code, by a person other than the person issued the special
license plates under subdivision (a) and the surviving spouse of that
person.
(h) For purposes of this section, "family" means grandparents,
stepgrandparents, parents, stepparents, siblings, stepsiblings,
children, and stepchildren of the person issued the special license
plates under subdivision (a).
5101.5. (a) A person otherwise eligible under this article who is a
former American prisoner of war may apply for special license plates
for the vehicle under this article. The special license plates
assigned to the vehicle shall run in a separate numerical series and
contain a replica design of the American Prisoner of War Medal
followed by the letters "POW" and four numbers. The special license
plates issued under this subdivision also shall contain the following
words: "Ex-Prisoner of War." The department shall, pursuant to this
article, reserve and issue the special license plates provided for by
this section only to persons who show by satisfactory proof former
prisoner-of-war status. A person otherwise issued license plates
within this series pursuant to this article prior to January 1, 1982,
may retain them.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the department, in
consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans'
service organizations, shall design and make available for issuance
pursuant to this article a special environmental design license plate
for former American prisoners of war who prefer not to have their
former status as a "POW" or "Ex-Prisoner of War" identified by words
or other markings or symbols. This section is not intended to
prohibit individuals eligible for the special license plate from
selecting the existing license plate design specified in subdivision
(a). The design criteria for a special interest license plate
pursuant to this subdivision are as follows:
(1) The license plate for a passenger vehicle, commercial vehicle,
or trailer shall provide a space not larger than two inches by three
inches to the left of the numerical series and a space not larger
than five-eighths of an inch in height below the numerical series for
a distinctive design, decal, or descriptive message as authorized by
this subdivision. The license plates shall be issued in sequential
numerical order or, pursuant to Section 5103, in a combination of
numbers or letters.
(2) The license plate shall not identify "POW" or "Ex-Prisoner of
War" by words or other markings or symbols.
(c) Special license plates may be issued pursuant to subdivision
(a) only for a vehicle owned or coowned by a former American prisoner
of war.
(d) Upon the death of a person issued the special license plates
pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the
special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this
section. If there is no surviving spouse, the special license plates
shall be returned to the department either within 60 days following
that death, or upon the expiration date of the vehicle registration,
whichever date occurs first. However, in the absence of a surviving
spouse, a member of the former prisoner of war's family may retain
one of the special license plates as a family heirloom, subject to
the conditions set forth in subdivision (i), upon submitting an
affidavit to the department agreeing not to attempt to use the
special license plates for vehicle registration purposes.
(e) If a surviving spouse who has elected to retain the special
license plates as authorized under subdivision (d) dies while in
possession of the special license plates, the special license plates
shall be returned to the department either within 60 days following
that death, or upon the expiration date of the vehicle registration,
whichever date occurs first. However, a member of the former prisoner
of war's family may retain one of the special license plates as a
family heirloom, subject to the conditions set forth in subdivision
(i), upon submitting an affidavit to the department agreeing not to
attempt to use the special license plates for vehicle registration
purposes.
(f) A vehicle exempted from fees by Section 9105 and by Section
10783 of the Revenue and Taxation Code shall lose the exemption upon
the death of the former American prisoner of war, except that if a
surviving spouse elects to retain the special license plates as
authorized under subdivision (d), the exemption pursuant to Section
9105, and Section 10783.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, shall
extend until the death of that spouse.
(g) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section.
(h) The department shall recall all former prisoner-of-war special
license plates issued pursuant to this section prior to January 1,
1999, and shall issue to the holder of those special license plates,
without charge, the revised special license plates authorized by this
section.
(i) The special license plates issued under this section are not
valid for use for vehicle registration purposes or for the purposes
of Section 9105 or Section 10783 or 10783.2 of the Revenue and
Taxation Code by a person other than the person issued the special
license plates under subdivision (a) and the surviving spouse of that
person.
(j) For purposes of this section, "family" means grandparents,
stepgrandparents, parents, stepparents, siblings, stepsiblings,
children, and stepchildren of the person issued the special license
plates under subdivision (a).
5101.6. (a) A person otherwise eligible under this article who is a
Congressional Medal of Honor recipient may apply for special license
plates for the vehicle under this article. The special license
plates assigned to the vehicle shall run in a separate numerical
series and shall have inscribed on the license plate the words
"Congressional Medal of Honor" or "Medal of Honor." The department
shall reserve and issue the special license plates to all applicants
providing the proof required by subdivision (b).
(b) The applicant shall, by satisfactory proof, show that the
applicant is a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.
(c) Special license plates may be issued pursuant to subdivision
(a) only for a vehicle owned or coowned by a Congressional Medal of
Honor recipient.
(d) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates
pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the
special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this
section. If there is no surviving spouse, the special license plates
shall be returned to the department either within 60 days following
that death, or upon the expiration date of the vehicle registration,
whichever date occurs first. However, in the absence of a surviving
spouse, a member of the Congressional Medal of Honor recipient's
family may retain one of the special license plates as a family
heirloom, subject to the conditions set forth in subdivision (h),
upon submitting an affidavit to the department agreeing not to
attempt to use the special license plates for vehicle registration
purposes.
(e) If a surviving spouse who has elected to retain the special
license plates as authorized under subdivision (d) dies while in
possession of the special license plates, the special license plates
shall be returned to the department either within 60 days following
that death, or upon the expiration date of the vehicle registration,
whichever date occurs first. However, a member of the Congressional
Medal of Honor recipient's family may retain one of the special
license plates as a family heirloom, subject to the conditions set
forth in subdivision (h), upon submitting an affidavit to the
department agreeing not to attempt to use the special license plates
for vehicle registration purposes.
(f) A vehicle exempted from fees by Section 9105 and by Section
10783 of the Revenue and Taxation Code shall lose the exemption upon
the death of the Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, except that
if a surviving spouse elects to retain the special license plates as
authorized under subdivision (d), the exemption pursuant to Section
9105, and Section 10783.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, shall
extend until the death of that spouse.
(g) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section.
(h) The special license plates issued under this section are not
valid for use for vehicle registration purposes or for the purposes
of Section 9105 or Section 10783 or 10783.2 of the Revenue and
Taxation Code by a person other than the person issued the special
license plates under subdivision (a) and the surviving spouse of that
person.
(i) For the purposes of this section, "family" means grandparents,
stepgrandparents, parents, stepparents, siblings, stepsiblings,
children, and stepchildren of the person issued the special license
plates under subdivision (a).
5101.7. (a) Until December 31, 1984, any person described in
Section 5101 may also apply for a set of commemorative 1984 Olympic
reflectorized license plates and the department shall issue those
special license plates in lieu of the regular license plates. No
commemorative 1984 Olympic reflectorized license plates shall be
issued pursuant to an application therefor which is submitted on or
after January 1, 1985, but the holder of those plates may thereafter
renew or retain them, obtain duplicate replacements for them, or
transfer them to another vehicle, subject to this article.
(b) Except as provided in this section, the issue, renewal,
cancellation, retention, and transfer of the commemorative 1984
Olympic reflectorized license plates shall be subject to the
provisions of this article as if they were environmental license
plates. Until December 31, 1989, duplicate, replacement plates shall
be identical commemorative 1984 Olympic reflectorized license plates
of the same letter, number, and design as originally issued. On and
after January 1, 1990, duplicate or replacement plates shall be
provided pursuant to this article.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 5106, in addition
to the regular registration fee, the applicant shall be charged a fee
of one hundred dollars ($100) for a set of commemorative 1984
Olympic reflectorized license plates described in subdivision (d).
(d) Notwithstanding the color, design, and number of digit
requirements of Section 5102, the department shall design the
commemorative 1984 Olympic reflectorized license plates, which shall
be reflectorized license plates issued pursuant to Section 4850. The
commemorative 1984 Olympic reflectorized license plates shall be of a
distinctive design, as determined by the department after
consultation with the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, and
shall be available, upon request in the application, in an indicated
combination of letters or numbers, or both, and as requested as a
registration number.
5101.8. (a) Any person otherwise eligible under this article who is
a Purple Heart recipient may apply for special license plates for
vehicles that are not used for transportation for hire, compensation,
or profit, under this article. The special plates assigned to the
vehicle shall run in a separate numerical series, shall have
inscribed on the plate the Purple Heart insignia, and shall contain
the words "Combat Wounded" and "Purple Heart" or at least the letters
"PH" as part of the numerical series. The department shall reserve
and issue the special plates to all applicants providing the proof
required by subdivision (b).
(b) The applicant, by satisfactory proof, shall show that the
applicant is a Purple Heart recipient.
(c) Special plates may be issued pursuant to subdivision (a) only
for a vehicle owned or coowned by a Purple Heart recipient.
(d) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates
pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the
special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this
section. If there is no surviving spouse, the special license plates
shall be returned to the department either (1) within 60 days
following that death or (2) upon the expiration of the vehicle
registration, whichever occurs first. However, in the absence of a
surviving spouse, another surviving member of the deceased Purple
Heart recipient's family may retain one of the special license plates
as a family heirloom, subject to the conditions set forth in
subdivision (h).
(e) If a surviving spouse who has elected to retain the special
license plates as authorized under subdivision (d) dies while in
possession of the special license plates, the special license plates
shall be returned to the department either within 60 days following
that death, or upon the expiration date of the vehicle registration,
whichever date occurs first. However, another surviving member of the
deceased Purple Heart recipient's family may retain one of the
special license plates as a family heirloom, subject to the
conditions set forth in subdivision (h).
(f) When an applicant for the Purple Heart license plate qualifies
as a disabled veteran, as specified in subdivision (b) of Section
22511.55, the applicant may also apply for a distinguishing placard
described in subdivision (a) of Section 22511.55 to be used in
conjunction with the Purple Heart license plate for the purpose of
allowing special parking privileges pursuant to subdivision (a) of
Section 22511.5.
(g) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section.
(h) The special license plates issued under this section are not
valid for use for vehicle registration purposes or for the purposes
of Section 9105, or Section 10783 or 10783.2 of the Revenue and
Taxation Code, by a person other than the person issued the special
license plates under subdivision (a) and the surviving spouse of that
person.
(i) For purposes of this section, "family" means grandparents,
stepgrandparents, parents, stepparents, siblings, stepsiblings,
children, and stepchildren of the person issued the special license
plates under subdivision (a).
5101.9. (a) Until December 31, 1991, any person described in
Section 5101 may apply for a set of commemorative Bicentennial of the
Bill of Rights reflectorized license plates and the department shall
issue those special license plates in lieu of regular license
plates. No commemorative Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights
reflectorized license plates shall be issued pursuant to an
application submitted on or after January 1, 1992, but the holder of
those plates may thereafter renew or retain them, obtain substitute
replacements for them, or transfer them to another vehicle, subject
to this section. However, substitute replacement plates shall not be
available on or after January 1, 1997. Thereafter, unless otherwise
provided by law, regular series plates shall be issued for the fee
provided in Section 9265 whenever substitute plates are required.
(b) The commemorative Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights
reflectorized license plates shall be of a distinctive design and
shall be available in a special series of letters or numbers, or
both, as determined by the department.
(c) In addition to the regular fees for an original or renewal
registration, the applicant shall be charged a fee of thirty-five
dollars ($35).
(d) Notwithstanding Section 9265, the applicant for substitute
commemorative Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights reflectorized
license plates shall be charged a fee of thirty-five dollars ($35).
(e) Whenever any person who has been issued commemorative
Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights reflectorized license plates
applies to the department for transfer of the plates to another
vehicle, a transfer fee of fifteen dollars ($15) shall be charged in
addition to all other appropriate fees.
(f) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply.
5102. The environmental license plates shall be the same color and
design as regular passenger vehicle, commercial vehicle, motorcycle,
or trailer license plates, and shall consist of any combination of
numbers or letters, not exceeding seven positions and not less than
two positions, if there are no conflicts with existing passenger,
commercial, trailer, motorcycle, or special license plates series or
with Section 4851.
5103. "Environmental license plates," as used in this article,
means license plates or permanent trailer identification plates that
have displayed upon them the registration number assigned to the
passenger vehicle, commercial motor vehicle, motorcycle, trailer, or
semitrailer for which a registration number was issued in a
combination of letters or numbers, or both, requested by the owner or
lessee of the vehicle.
5104. Environmental license plates shall be issued only to the
registered owner or lessee of the vehicle on which they are to be
displayed.
5105. (a) An applicant for issuance of environmental license plates
or renewal of such plates in the subsequent year pursuant to this
article shall file an application therefor in such form and by such
date as the department may require, indicating thereon the
combination of letters or numbers, or both, requested as a
registration number. There shall be no duplication of registration
numbers, and the department may refuse to issue any combination of
letters or numbers, or both, that may carry connotations offensive to
good taste and decency or which would be misleading or a duplication
of license plates provided for in Article 8 (commencing with Section
5000) of Chapter 1 of Division 3.
(b) The department may cancel and order the return of any
environmental license plate heretofore or hereafter issued,
containing any combination of letters, or numbers, or both, which the
department determines carries connotations offensive to good taste
and decency or which would be misleading. Whenever the department
orders any person to return any such environmental license plate
containing any combination of letters or numbers, or both, which the
department determines carries connotations offensive to good taste
and decency or which would be misleading, the person so ordered may,
in writing and within 10 days after receiving the order, demand a
hearing, which shall be granted. The provisions of Chapter 5
(commencing with Section 11500), Part 1, Division 3, Title 2 of the
Government Code, shall apply to hearings provided for in this
subdivision. Any person ordered to return such plates shall either be
reimbursed for any additional fees he paid for the plates pursuant
to Section 5106 or 5108 for the registration year in which they are
recalled, or be given, at no additional cost therefor, replacement
environmental license plates, the issuance of which is in compliance
with this code.
(c) The department may cancel and order the return of any
environmental license plate, without opportunity to be heard, as
specified in subdivision (b) of this section, if the license plate
issued is a duplication of license plates provided for in Article 8
(commencing with Section 5000) of Chapter 1 of Division 3 or if the
fee specified under subdivision (c) of Section 5106 has not been
paid.
5106. (a) Except as provided in Section 5101.7, in addition to the
regular registration fee or a permanent trailer identification fee,
the applicant shall be charged a fee of forty-eight dollars ($48) for
issuance of environmental license plates.
(b) In addition to the regular renewal fee or a permanent trailer
identification fee for the vehicle to which the plates are assigned,
the applicant for a renewal of environmental license plates shall be
charged an additional fee of thirty-eight dollars ($38). An applicant
with a permanent trailer identification plate shall be charged an
annual fee of thirty-eight dollars ($38) for renewal of environmental
license plates. However, applicants for renewal of prisoner-of-war
special license plates issued under Section 5101.5 shall not be
charged the additional renewal fee under this subdivision.
(c) When payment of renewal fees is not required as specified in
Section 4000, the holder of any environmental license plate may
retain the plate upon payment of an annual fee of thirty-eight
dollars ($38). The fee shall be due at the expiration of the
registration year of the vehicle to which the environmental license
plate was last assigned. However, applicants for retention of
prisoner-of-war special license plates issued under Section 5101.5
shall not be charged the additional retention fee under this
subdivision.
(d) Notwithstanding Section 9265, the applicant for a duplicate
environmental license plate or a duplicate, replacement commemorative
1984 Olympic reflectorized license plate shall be charged a fee of
thirty-eight dollars ($38).
5107. (a) All revenue derived from the fees provided for in this
article shall be deposited in the California Environmental License
Plate Fund.
(b) Not more than fifty cents ($0.50) of the amount collected from
each applicant pursuant to Section 5106 on and after January 1,
1999, shall be set aside for use, upon appropriation by the
Legislature, by the appropriate agency for the purpose of increasing
public awareness of the environmental license plate program.
5108. Whenever any person who has been issued environmental license
plates applies to the department for transfer of the plates to
another passenger vehicle, commercial motor vehicle, trailer, or
semitrailer, a transfer fee of thirty-eight dollars ($38) shall be
charged in addition to all other appropriate fees.
5109. When any person who has been issued environmental license
plates sells, trades, or otherwise releases ownership of the vehicle
upon which the environmental license plates have been displayed, such
person shall immediately report the transfer of such plates to an
acquired passenger vehicle, commercial vehicle, or trailer pursuant
to Section 5108, unless such person determines to retain the plates
pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 5106.
5110. (a) The director may adopt rules and regulations as necessary
to carry out the purposes of this article.
(b) Whenever two or more separate series of special plates are
authorized under this article in a period of one year, the director
shall coordinate the administrative and technical procedures for
preparation and issuance of the plates in order to control costs to
the maximum extent.
5112. (a) The department shall revise its Internet Web site to
provide a direct link on the homepage to information on ordering
environmental license plates.
(b) The department may provide links on its Internet Web site to
other Internet Web sites that have information regarding the
protection and management of ocean and coastal resources and other
programs that are supported with funds from the Environmental License
Plate Fund.
(c) When existing supplies of forms, publications, and signs have
been depleted, or if those forms, publications, and signs are
required to be revised in the normal course of operations, the
department shall include in the replenishing supplies or the revised
forms, publications, and signs, information regarding environmental
license plates and the procedures for applying for those plates. This
subdivision applies only to forms, publications, and signs, that
advertise, facilitate the application for, or are an application for
environmental license plates.