(1) Existing law establishes the Department of Motor Vehicles in the Transportation Agency and prescribes the department's powers and duties. Existing law requires the department to publish the complete text of the Vehicle Code together with other laws relating to the use of highways or the operation of motor vehicles once every 2 years, to be distributed, upon request, to state and local governmental officers or agencies, federal agencies, public secondary schools in the state, and any other person, at a charge sufficient to pay the entire cost of publication and distribution. Existing law requires receipts from the sale of those publications to be deposited in the Motor Vehicle Account, to reimburse the department for the entire cost to print and distribute the code. Existing law also requires the department to publish a synopsis or summary of the synopsis or summary without charge with each original vehicle registration and each original driver's license. Existing law requires the department to publish copies of the synopsis or summary, as specified, and to furnish copies to its field offices and to law enforcement agencies for general distribution, without charge.
This bill would delete the requirements relating to the publication and distribution of the complete text of the Vehicle Code and would make various technical and conforming changes.
Existing law requires the department to issue a driver's license to an applicant when the department determines that the applicant is lawfully entitled to a license. Existing law requires the application for an original driver's license or renewal of a driver's license to contain specified information, including a legible thumbprint or fingerprint. Existing law requires every original application for a driver's license and identification to be signed and verified by the applicant.
This bill would require the department to verify that the applicant's thumbprint or fingerprint is on file before issuing a driver's license or an identification card. This bill would also require that an original application for a driver's license or identification card be signed under penalty of perjury. By expanding the crime of perjury in this manner, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law authorizes the Director of Motor Vehicles to establish a program to evaluate the traffic safety and other effects of renewing driver's licenses by mail for licensees who meet specified criteria. Existing law prohibits driver's license renewal by mail for a person 70 years of age or older.
This bill would suspend that prohibition until January 1, 2023.
(2) Existing law requires an insurer that issues specified private passenger liability insurance policies and coverages to submit reports to the Department of Motor Vehicles of all motor vehicle liability policies or coverages issued, changed, or terminated, as specified. Existing law requires these reports to be submitted electronically.
This bill would, on or before January 1, 2023, additionally require an insurer that issues commercial and fleet insurance policies to submit these reports electronically.
(3) Existing federal law requires a motor carrier, as defined, to file an application form with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to obtain a United States Department of Transportation number before beginning operations and every 24 months thereafter, as specified. Existing federal law, among other provisions, establishes identification requirements applicable to rented carriers for which the rental agreement or lease is 30 or fewer calendar days, as prescribed.
Existing law requires, except as specified, a motor carrier, motor carrier of property, and for-hire motor carrier of property to obtain a carrier identification number from the Department of the California Highway Patrol and requires the carrier identification number to be displayed on both sides of each vehicle or on both sides of at least one motor vehicle in each combination of specified vehicles. Existing law requires information provided in connection with an application for a carrier identification to be true and accurate, and to be updated at the request of the department and within 15 days of a change of address or cessation of regulated activity.
Existing law requires a vehicle or combination of vehicles operating under a rental agreement with a term of 30 or fewer calendar days to meet specified identification requirements that are consistent with the federal identification requirements. A violation of the provisions relating to motor carrier identification numbers is punishable as an infraction.
This bill, with respect to motor carriers, would limit the carrier identification number requirement to those whose principal place of business is in this state, who operate from a terminal in this state, or who are required to be licensed to transport hazardous materials, as specified. The bill would revise the requirement to update motor carrier information to also include updating the resumption of regulated activity. The bill would expressly exempt the above-referenced rental vehicles that meet federal identification requirements from the requirement to display a motor carrier identification number. The bill would make technical and conforming changes.
(4) This bill would appropriate $1,630,000 from the General Fund to the State Transportation Agency, to be allocated to the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the Fulton Street Safety and Transit Project west of Arguello Street, as specified.
(5) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
(6) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.

Statutes affected:
09/05/21 - Amended Senate: 1656 VEH, 1663 VEH, 1666 VEH, 12802 VEH, 12814.5 VEH, 13000 VEH, 15632 VEH, 16058 VEH, 34507.5 VEH
09/13/21 - Enrolled: 1656 VEH, 1663 VEH, 1666 VEH, 12802 VEH, 12814.5 VEH, 13000 VEH, 15632 VEH, 16058 VEH, 34507.5 VEH
09/23/21 - Chaptered: 1656 VEH, 1663 VEH, 1666 VEH, 12802 VEH, 12814.5 VEH, 13000 VEH, 15632 VEH, 16058 VEH, 34507.5 VEH