Other EquipmentFenders, Ornaments, and Television
Section § 27600
This law states that if you're driving a vehicle with three or more wheels, or towing a trailer or semitrailer, it must have fenders or similar equipment to prevent water or mud from splashing onto the road. The protective gear needs to be as wide as the tire tread. However, this rule doesn't apply to certain lightweight vehicles under 1,500 pounds that are exempt from registration or manufactured before 1971.
Section § 27602
You can't drive a car if it has a TV or video screen showing entertainment or business applications that's in front of the driver's seat or visible to the driver. There are exceptions: vehicle information displays, GPS units, mapping systems, displays that help with driving, and equipment with interlock devices that block videos while driving. Work vehicles from utilities or certain services can have operating screens if they're covered so the driver can't see them. Emergency vehicles or vehicles used in emergencies are also exempt.
Section § 27603
If you buy a vehicle that was once a school bus and plan to use it for non-school-related purposes, you must paint it a different color than the standard school bus color before driving it on public roads. This law ensures that the vehicle isn't mistaken for a school bus. However, if a school bus is temporarily transferred to a nonprofit and will be returned to the original owner within 90 days, this requirement does not apply.
Section § 27604
This law requires that when a former police vehicle, painted for law enforcement, is sold to someone for non-law enforcement use, it must be repainted or altered so it doesn't look like an active police car. Any police insignia or markings must be removed by the seller before the vehicle can be driven on public roads, except to get painted or relocated to storage.
Exceptions include former police cars without insignia that are one solid color, used for film production with 'movie car' signs, or police motorcycles without insignia. There is also an exception for vehicles held by public historical societies or museums that secure them from unauthorized use and don't drive them on roads, unless for venues like parades or if they're over 25 years old.
Section § 27605
This California law prohibits anyone from owning or driving a car that looks like it belongs to the police, primarily for enforcing specific traffic and vehicle rules. However, there are exceptions: cars painted one solid color or registered before 1979, those owned by car manufacturers or dealers, law enforcement agencies, movie or TV productions with 'movie car' signs, used for funeral escorts, and motorcycles without insignia. Additionally, the rule doesn't apply to historical vehicles kept in museums, as long as they're secure and not used on public roads unless it's for approved events or the vehicle is over 25 years old.
Section § 27606
This law makes it illegal to own or drive a vehicle that has a light bar resembling those used by police or traffic officers. A light bar refers to any light on a car roof emitting amber, red, or blue lights. It doesn't matter how much the light emits; even a fake light bar counts. However, exceptions exist for vehicles owned by museums or historical societies, as long as they can't be operated by unauthorized people. These vehicles can’t be driven on public roads, except during specific events like parades, or if the vehicle is at least 25 years old from the current year.
Section § 27607
This law clarifies that certain vehicles used by professionals who are licensed under specific sections of the Business and Professions Code are not subject to Section 27606, which typically regulates how a vehicle can be marked or equipped. However, even these professionals cannot install a light bar on their vehicles if other laws or regulations prohibit it.