BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1618
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 21, 2003
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
John A. Dutra, Chair
AB 1618 (Firebaugh) - As Amended: April 9, 2003
SUBJECT : Vehicle dealers: sales: front license plate brackets
SUMMARY : Prohibits, after January 1, 2005, motor vehicle
dealers from selling motor vehicles without front license plate
brackets. Specifically, this bill prohibits, after January 1,
2005, the delivery of a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle,
that is not equipped with a front license plate.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Prohibits the holder of certain occupational licenses issued
by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) from engaging in
certain practices, including, delivering, following the sale
of a vehicle, a vehicle for operation on California highways
that does not meet all of the statutory equipment
requirements.
2)Specifies that when two license plates are issued by DMV for a
vehicle, the license plates shall be attached to the vehicle
for which they were issued, one in the front and the other in
the rear.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : According to the author, new cars at the time of sale
are sometimes not equipped with front license plate brackets
which can "contribute to the misconception that motorists are
only required to display a back plate."
Current law, however, requires that when DMV issues two license
plates, which is usually always the case for passenger vehicles,
one license plate must be attached to the front and the other
attached to the rear of the vehicle. Some vehicles, as the
author contends, are often sold without the proper equipment to
mount the front license plate. Unless the new owner is aware of
this requirement, he or she could be operating the vehicle
illegally if the license plate is not attached to the front. In
2002, CHP identified nearly 40,000 citations that were issued
for this offense.
AB 1618
Page 2
In order for drivers to obey the law and avoid citation, they
must take it upon themselves to physically mount the plate to
the front of their vehicle. The author suggests that this
should not be the driver's responsibility and when a consumer
purchases a vehicle, it is reasonable to expect that the vehicle
is compliant with current law.
Additionally, the California State Automobile Association points
out that not only does this bill enable vehicle owners to comply
with California's front license plate requirements, but it also
assists law enforcement in identifying vehicles for certain
automated enforcement violations and toll evasions, because
front license plates are often needed to ensure proper
identification.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Automobile Club of Southern California
California State Automobile Association
Opposition
None received
Analysis Prepared by : Ryan Spencer / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093