Original and Renewal of Registration; Issuance of Certificates of TitleSpecial Interest License Plates
Section § 5060
This section outlines the rules for organizations to participate in California's special interest license plate program. Organizations must meet specific criteria, such as being tax-exempt and providing a financial plan for revenue use, to apply for these plates. They must submit at least 7,500 applications before plates are issued. The design must ensure visibility for law enforcement, and there are specific design guidelines based on vehicle type. Organizations can collect fees, but must refund them if they don’t reach application goals within designated time frames. The department deducts its costs and manages remaining revenues through a special fund. An organization must not spend more than 25% of the funds on administrative costs. They must also submit annual financial reports, and failure to adhere to spending limits results in redirected funds. If compliance is not achieved, the department will cease issuing those plates.
Section § 5060.1
This law states that the department is not allowed to accept applications for joining a special interest license plate program and cannot issue special interest plates for any new programs, despite what Section 5060 or any other law might suggest.
Section § 5061
This law states that when the department allows a special interest license plate for a motorcycle, the design can't have graphics behind the numbers or symbols within the numbers. However, the fees for these special plates are the same as for other vehicles.
Section § 5062
This section outlines the Rosenthal Blue Sky License Plate Program, aimed at promoting clean fuel vehicles in California. The nonprofit group CALSTART is given permission to manage this special license plate program with the help of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The distinctive Blue Sky license plates are designed for vehicles using clean fuel. Vehicle owners or lessees can apply for these plates when registering or renewing their vehicle registration. Any money made from selling these plates goes into the California Environmental License Plate Fund, after covering program costs. A Blue Sky plate can be moved to another clean fuel vehicle, but if the new vehicle doesn't use clean fuel, the plates must be surrendered to the DMV. CALSTART is also mandated to publicize the availability of these plates with several state agencies. Lastly, CALSTART had one year from November 1, 1995, to gather at least 5,000 plate applications or the program would be canceled on January 1, 1997.
Section § 5064
This law allows for special license plates featuring a Yosemite National Park design, which people can purchase for an extra fee. The fees are $50 for the original plate, $40 for renewals, $15 for vehicle transfers, $35 for replacement plates, and $65 to convert existing plates. Half of the money collected goes to environmental projects in Yosemite National Park via the Yosemite Foundation, and the other half goes to the California Environmental License Plate Fund. The Yosemite Foundation must report yearly to the Legislature on how it spends the funds.
Section § 5066
This law allows for the creation and sale of California memorial license plates, the proceeds of which are dedicated to antiterrorism activities. Applicants can choose custom number and letter combinations for their plates. The fees for these plates include: $50 for the initial issue, $40 for renewals, $15 for transfers, and $35 for replacements.
The revenue is placed in the Antiterrorism Fund, with half allocated for specific antiterrorism uses by the Office of Emergency Services and the other half used for other antiterrorism activities. Up to $50,000 annually may be used to promote the program. The term 'antiterrorism activities' includes efforts by law enforcement, fire protection, and public health sectors to prevent and respond to terrorism.
If less than 7,500 plates are active as of each January 1st from 2007 onward, no new plates will be issued.
Section § 5067
This section explains that California offers special license plates with a coastal design, intended to support environmental programs. These plates can be personalized with numbers and letters, and are available to qualifying individuals for additional fees. Upon obtaining these plates, fees include $50 for the initial issue, $40 for renewal, $15 for transfer, and $35 for replacement. These extra fees are split between two funds: the California Beach and Coastal Enhancement Account and the California Environmental License Plate Fund. These funds finance programs like beach cleanups, coastal education, and natural resource projects.
Section § 5068
This law section allows veterans' organizations to apply for special license plates, either on their own or with other groups, once they meet certain application requirements. These plates feature unique designs or decals that honor veterans, which can be modified to recognize veterans of specific wars if needed. Any registered vehicle owner can apply for these plates that also allow for personalized combinations of numbers and letters.
Additional fees are required for these special plates: $50 for the initial issue, $40 for renewal, $15 for transfers, $35 for replacement plates, $10 for replacement decals, and $78 for personalized options. The Department of Motor Vehicles offers online ordering for these plates.
Section § 5068.1
By July 1, 2013, California's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) was required to issue special decals for vehicles registered with veteran plates. These decals allow individuals to showcase their veteran status or honor veterans from specific wars or armed conflicts. This includes veterans who served during certain periods and campaigns recognized by the U.S. government.
Veterans can also choose a "yellow ribbon/support our troops" decal instead. Additionally, the DMV can stop offering specific decals if there isn't enough demand to justify maintaining them.
Section § 5069
This section explains that money collected from special fees, after covering associated costs, will go into the Veterans Service Office Fund. This fund is used as specified in another law.
Section § 5072
This law allows people to apply for special "Have a Heart, Be a Star, Help Our Kids" license plates in California, which are distinguished by unique symbols like a heart or star within the license plate's sequence. These symbols are read as blanks in the sequence for processing purposes. Applicants can choose a department-assigned character sequence or create their own, with additional fees for specialized plates. The fees help fund child health and safety initiatives. Plates are permanent but can be transferred to new vehicles for a fee. The intent is to ensure the funds raised supplement, not replace, existing budget allocations for these causes.
Section § 5074
This law is called the Polanco-Bates License Plates for the Arts Act of 1993. It allows the California Arts Council to be part of a program where special interest license plates are issued featuring unique designs representing California. When someone gets these special plates, they pay extra fees: $50 for original issuance, $40 for renewal, and $15 for transferring to another vehicle. If an environmental plate with a design is chosen, additional fees also apply.
Most of the money from these fees goes into a fund used specifically for arts education and local arts programs, after subtracting administrative costs. The California Arts Council oversees how this money is spent, ensuring it supports the arts across the state.
Section § 5075
This law allows people to buy special license plates with a Lake Tahoe design, with extra fees applied to registration, renewal, and transfer of these plates. The issuance of these plates is coordinated with the California Tahoe Conservancy. Funds collected from these fees, after covering administrative costs, are directed to the Lake Tahoe Conservancy Account.
The money in this account is used for projects focused on preserving and restoring the Lake Tahoe area, and for developing nonmotorized traffic trails and pathways. Additional fees for certain graphic designs go specifically into the broader Environmental License Plate Fund.