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New Laws for 2010 - Vehicle Registration

Unless otherwise indicated, these new laws become effective on January 1, 2010.

Off Highway Motor Vehicles

Amend California Vehicle Code §§1803, 12810
Add: California Vehicle Code §38304.1

This law prohibits a parent or guardian from granting permission or knowingly allowing a child under age 14 to operate an off-highway vehicle in violation of the law requiring the operator to be of sufficient physical stature to reach and operate all controls necessary for the vehicle’s safe operation.

Distinguishing Placards and License Plates

Amend: Penal Code §1465.6
Amend: California Vehicle Code §§4461, 4463, 22511.57, 40203.5, 42001.3
Add: California Vehicle Code §§40200.1, 20203.6

This new law grants cities and counties the authority to cite a broader range of disabled parking space violations; allows those violations to be cited as civil parking violations in lieu of misdemeanors; establishes minimum penalty amounts for these civil offenses and extends an existing 10 percent penalty assessment to specified criminal and civil citations.

Additional Registration Fees

Amend: California Vehicle Code §9250.14

This law will extend the sunset date of the Vehicle Theft Deterrence Fee from January 1, 2010, until January 1, 2018.

Reissuance Fee

Amend: California Vehicle Code §4000.38
Effective January 1, 2011

This new law exempts members of the California National Guard and the U. S. Armed Forces from the fee that is required to reinstate vehicle registration that has been suspended for lack of required liability insurance, if the fee becomes due while a member is serving on active duty, outside of California, and in military conflict during wartime.

Registration and Title Information

Amend: California Vehicle Code §4465

This law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), by January 1, 2010, to be in full compliance, to the extent practicable, with the federal Anti-Car Theft Act of 1992 and the rules governing the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS).

Duplicate or Substitute Certificate of Title or License Plate

Amend: California Vehicle Code §4465

This law will add agents of vehicle dealers and licensed registration services to the list of entities authorized to submit applications for duplicate titles and/or duplicate or substitute license plates.

Electronic Lien

Amend: California Vehicle Code §4450.5

This new law requires the DMV on or before January 1, 2012, to develop an Electronic Lien and Title (ELT) program that requires all lien holders’ title information to be held in an electronic format. The law allows DMV to establish an auto-loan business volume threshold for ELT participation. Lien holders with auto-loan volumes lower than the DMV established threshold would not be required to participate in the ELT program.

Motor Vehicle Registration Fees

Add: California Vehicle Code §9250.4
Add: Government Code §65086.20

This law authorizes a countywide transportation-planning agency, upon voter approval, to impose an annual fee of up to $10 on motor vehicles registered within the county, as specified.