State California VC Sec 5100-5112 Environmental License Plates VEHICLE CODE SECTION 5100-5112 5100. The purpose of this article is to provide revenue for the California Environmental License Plate Fund. 5101. Any person who is the registered owner or lessee of a passenger vehicle, commercial motor vehicle, motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer registered or certificated with the department, or who makes application for an original registration or renewal registration of that vehicle, may, upon payment of the fee prescribed in Section 5106 and those fees required by Sections 5022 to 5024, inclusive, apply to the department for environmental license plates, in the manner prescribed in Section 5105, which plates shall be affixed to the passenger vehicle, commercial motor vehicle, motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer for which registration is sought in lieu of the regular license plates. 5101.2. (a) A person otherwise eligible under this article who is a firefighter or a retired firefighter may apply for special license plates for a vehicle under this article. License plates issued pursuant to this section shall be issued in accordance with Section 5060. (b) The applicant, by satisfactory proof, shall show all of the following: (1) The applicant is, or has retired, in good standing as an officer, an employee, or a member of a fire department or a fire service of the state, a county, a city, a district, or any other political subdivision of the state, whether in a volunteer, partly paid, or fully paid status. (2) The applicant is, or was until retirement, regularly employed as a firefighter or regularly enrolled as a volunteer firefighter. (3) The applicant's principal duties fall, or fell until retirement, within the scope of active firefighting and any of the following activities: (A) Fire prevention service. (B) Fire training. (C) Hazardous materials abatement. (D) Arson investigation. (E) Emergency medical services. (c) The special license plates issued under this section shall contain the words "California Firefighter" and shall run in a regular numerical series. (d) In addition to the regular fees for an original registration, a renewal of registration, or a transfer of registration, the following special license plate fees shall be paid: (1) A fee of thirty-five dollars ($35) for the initial issuance of the special license plates. These special license plates shall be permanent and shall not be required to be replaced. (2) A fee of twenty dollars ($20) for each renewal of registration that includes the continued display of the special license plates. (3) If the special license plates become damaged or unserviceable, a fee of thirty-five dollars ($35) for the replacement of the special license plates, obtained from the department upon proper application therefor. (4) A fee of fifteen dollars ($15) for the transfer of the special license plates to another vehicle qualifying as a vehicle owned by a firefighter who has met the requirements set forth in subdivision (b). (5) In addition, for the issuance of environmental license plates, as defined in Section 5103, with the special firefighter personal vehicle license plates and distinctive design or decal, the additional fees prescribed in Sections 5106 and 5108. The additional fees collected pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited in the California Environmental License Plate Fund. (e) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates pursuant to this section, the plates shall be transferred to the surviving spouse, if he or she requests, or shall be returned to the department within 60 days after the death of the plateholder or upon the expiration of the vehicle registration, whichever occurs first. (f) Except as provided in paragraph (5) of subdivision (d), the revenues derived from the additional special fees provided in this section, less costs incurred by the department pursuant to this section, shall be deposited in the California Firefighters' Memorial Fund established by Section 18802 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. 5101.3. (a) Any person otherwise eligible under this article who qualifies under subdivision (b) may apply for special license plates that shall run in a separate numerical series and shall contain the words "Pearl Harbor Survivor." The plates may be issued for any vehicle, except a vehicle used for transportation for hire, compensation, or profit, or a motorcycle, which is owned or coowned by the person. (b) To qualify for issuance of the special plates, the applicant by satisfactory proof shall show all of the following: (1) The applicant was a member of the United States Armed Forces on December 7, 1941, and received an honorable discharge from military service. (2) The applicant was on station at Pearl Harbor, the Island of Oahu, or offshore within a distance of three miles, on December 7, 1941, during the hours of 7:55 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., Hawaii time, as certified by a California chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. (c) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this section. Upon the death of the spouse, the retained special license plates shall be returned to the department either (1) within 60 days following that death or (2) upon the expiration of the vehicle registration, whichever occurs first. (d) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section. 5101.4. (a) Any person otherwise eligible under this article who is a recipient of the Army Medal of Honor, Navy Medal of Honor, Air Force Medal of Honor, Army Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross may apply for special license plates for the vehicle under this article. (b) The applicant, by conclusive evidence, shall show that the applicant is a recipient of one of the nation's highest decorations for valor, as specified in subdivision (a). (c) The special license plates issued under this section shall contain the words "Legion of Valor" and shall run in a regular numerical series. An adhesive sticker denoting which of the nation's highest decorations for valor, as specified in subdivision (a), is held by the applicant shall be affixed in a recess provided for it on the license plates. (d) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this section. Upon the death of the spouse, the retained special license plates shall be returned to the department either (1) within 60 days following that death or (2) upon the expiration of the vehicle registration, whichever occurs first. (e) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section. 5101.5. (a) Any person otherwise eligible under this article who is a former American prisoner of war may apply for special license plates for the vehicle under this article. The special plates assigned to the vehicle shall run in a separate numerical series and contain a replica design of the American Prisoner of War Medal followed by the letters "POW" and four numbers. The special license plates issued under this subdivision also shall contain the following words: "Ex-Prisoner of War." The department shall, pursuant to this article, reserve and issue the license plates provided for by this section only to persons who show by satisfactory proof his or her former prisoner of war status. Any person otherwise issued license plates within this series pursuant to this article prior to January 1, 1982, may retain them. (b) Special license plates may be issued pursuant to subdivision (a) only for a vehicle owned or coowned by a former American prisoner of war. (c) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this section. Upon the death of the spouse, the retained special license plates shall be returned to the department either (1) within 60 days following that death or (2) upon the expiration of the vehicle registration, whichever occurs first. (d) Any vehicle exempted from fees by Section 9105 and by Section 10783 of the Revenue and Taxation Code shall lose the exemption upon the death of the former American prisoner of war. (e) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section. (f) The department shall recall all former prisoner-of-war license plates issued pursuant to this section prior to January 1, 1999, and shall issue to the holder of those plates, without charge, the revised plates authorized by this section. (g) This section shall become operative on July 1, 1999. 5101.6. (a) Any person otherwise eligible under this article who is a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient may apply for special license plates for the vehicle under this article. The special license plates assigned to the vehicle shall run in a separate numerical series and shall have inscribed on the license plate the words "Congressional Medal of Honor" or "Medal of Honor." The department shall reserve and issue the special license plates to all applicants providing the proof required by subdivision (b). (b) The applicant shall, by satisfactory proof, show that the applicant is a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. (c) Special license plates may be issued pursuant to subdivision (a) only for a vehicle owned or co-owned by a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. (d) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this section. Upon the death of the spouse , the retained, special license plates shall be returned to the department either (1) within 60 days following that death or (2) upon the expiration of the vehicle registration, whichever occurs first. (e) Any vehicle exempted from fees by Section 9105 and by Section 10783 of the Revenue and Taxation Code shall lose the exemption upon the death of the Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. (f) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section. 5101.7. (a) Until December 31, 1984, any person described in Section 5101 may also apply for a set of commemorative 1984 Olympic reflectorized license plates and the department shall issue those special license plates in lieu of the regular license plates. No commemorative 1984 Olympic reflectorized license plates shall be issued pursuant to an application therefor which is submitted on or after January 1, 1985, but the holder of those plates may thereafter renew or retain them, obtain duplicate replacements for them, or transfer them to another vehicle, subject to this article. (b) Except as provided in this section, the issue, renewal, cancellation, retention, and transfer of the commemorative 1984 Olympic reflectorized license plates shall be subject to the provisions of this article as if they were environmental license plates. Until December 31, 1989, duplicate, replacement plates shall be identical commemorative 1984 Olympic reflectorized license plates of the same letter, number, and design as originally issued. On and after January 1, 1990, duplicate or replacement plates shall be provided pursuant to this article. (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 5106, in addition to the regular registration fee, the applicant shall be charged a fee of one hundred dollars ($100) for a set of commemorative 1984 Olympic reflectorized license plates described in subdivision (d). (d) Notwithstanding the color, design, and number of digit requirements of Section 5102, the department shall design the commemorative 1984 Olympic reflectorized license plates, which shall be reflectorized license plates issued pursuant to Section 4850. The commemorative 1984 Olympic reflectorized license plates shall be of a distinctive design, as determined by the department after consultation with the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, and shall be available, upon request in the application, in an indicated combination of letters or numbers, or both, and as requested as a registration number. 5101.8. (a) Any person otherwise eligible under this article who is a Purple Heart recipient may apply for special license plates for vehicles that are not used for transportation for hire, compensation, or profit, under this article. The special plates assigned to the vehicle shall run in a separate numerical series, shall have inscribed on the plate the Purple Heart insignia, and shall contain the words "Combat Wounded" and "Purple Heart" or at least the letters "PH" as part of the numerical series. The department shall reserve and issue the special plates to all applicants providing the proof required by subdivision (b). (b) The applicant, by satisfactory proof, shall show that the applicant is a Purple Heart recipient. (c) Special plates may be issued pursuant to subdivision (a) only for a vehicle owned or coowned by a Purple Heart recipient. (d) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this section. Upon the death of the spouse, the retained, special license plates shall be returned to the department either (1) within 60 days following that death or (2) upon the expiration of the vehicle registration, whichever occurs first. (e) When an applicant for the Purple Heart license plate qualifies as a disabled veteran, as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 22511.55, the applicant may also apply for a distinguishing placard described in subdivision (a) of Section 22511.55 to be used in conjunction with the Purple Heart license plate for the purpose of allowing special parking privileges pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 22511.5. (f) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section. 5101.9. (a) Until December 31, 1991, any person described in Section 5101 may apply for a set of commemorative Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights reflectorized license plates and the department shall issue those special license plates in lieu of regular license plates. No commemorative Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights reflectorized license plates shall be issued pursuant to an application submitted on or after January 1, 1992, but the holder of those plates may thereafter renew or retain them, obtain substitute replacements for them, or transfer them to another vehicle, subject to this section. However, substitute replacement plates shall not be available on or after January 1, 1997. Thereafter, unless otherwise provided by law, regular series plates shall be issued for the fee provided in Section 9265 whenever substitute plates are required. (b) The commemorative Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights reflectorized license plates shall be of a distinctive design and shall be available in a special series of letters or numbers, or both, as determined by the department. (c) In addition to the regular fees for an original or renewal registration, the applicant shall be charged a fee of thirty-five dollars ($35). (d) Notwithstanding Section 9265, the applicant for substitute commemorative Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights reflectorized license plates shall be charged a fee of thirty-five dollars ($35). (e) Whenever any person who has been issued commemorative Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights reflectorized license plates applies to the department for transfer of the plates to another vehicle, a transfer fee of fifteen dollars ($15) shall be charged in addition to all other appropriate fees. (f) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply. 5102. The environmental license plates shall be the same color and design as regular passenger vehicle, commercial vehicle, motorcycle, or trailer license plates, and shall consist of any combination of numbers or letters, not exceeding seven positions and not less than two positions, if there are no conflicts with existing passenger, commercial, trailer, motorcycle, or special license plates series or with Section 4851. 5103. "Environmental license plates," as used in this article, means license plates or permanent trailer identification plates that have displayed upon them the registration number assigned to the passenger vehicle, commercial motor vehicle, motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer for which a registration number was issued in a combination of letters or numbers, or both, requested by the owner or lessee of the vehicle. 5104. Environmental license plates shall be issued only to the registered owner or lessee of the vehicle on which they are to be displayed. 5105. (a) An applicant for issuance of environmental license plates or renewal of such plates in the subsequent year pursuant to this article shall file an application therefor in such form and by such date as the department may require, indicating thereon the combination of letters or numbers, or both, requested as a registration number. There shall be no duplication of registration numbers, and the department may refuse to issue any combination of letters or numbers, or both, that may carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency or which would be misleading or a duplication of license plates provided for in Article 8 (commencing with Section 5000) of Chapter 1 of Division 3. (b) The department may cancel and order the return of any environmental license plate heretofore or hereafter issued, containing any combination of letters, or numbers, or both, which the department determines carries connotations offensive to good taste and decency or which would be misleading. Whenever the department orders any person to return any such environmental license plate containing any combination of letters or numbers, or both, which the department determines carries connotations offensive to good taste and decency or which would be misleading, the person so ordered may, in writing and within 10 days after receiving the order, demand a hearing, which shall be granted. The provisions of Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500), Part 1, Division 3, Title 2 of the Government Code, shall apply to hearings provided for in this subdivision. Any person ordered to return such plates shall either be reimbursed for any additional fees he paid for the plates pursuant to Section 5106 or 5108 for the registration year in which they are recalled, or be given, at no additional cost therefor, replacement environmental license plates, the issuance of which is in compliance with this code. (c) The department may cancel and order the return of any environmental license plate, without opportunity to be heard, as specified in subdivision (b) of this section, if the license plate issued is a duplication of license plates provided for in Article 8 (commencing with Section 5000) of Chapter 1 of Division 3 or if the fee specified under subdivision (c) of Section 5106 has not been paid. 5106. (a) Except as provided in Section 5101.7, in addition to the regular registration fee or a permanent trailer identification fee, the applicant shall be charged a fee of forty dollars ($40) for issuance of environmental license plates. (b) In addition to the regular renewal fee or a permanent trailer identification fee for the vehicle to which the plates are assigned, the applicant for a renewal of environmental license plates shall be charged an additional fee of thirty dollars ($30). An applicant with a permanent trailer identification plate shall be charged an annual fee of thirty dollars ($30) for renewal of environmental license plates. However, applicants for renewal of prisoner-of-war special license plates issued under Section 5101.5 shall not be charged the additional renewal fee under this subdivision. (c) When payment of renewal fees is not required as specified in Section 4000, the holder of any environmental license plate may retain the plate upon payment of an annual fee of thirty dollars ($30). The fee shall be due at the expiration of the registration year of the vehicle to which the environmental license plate was last assigned. However, applicants for retention of prisoner-of-war special license plates issued under Section 5101.5 shall not be charged the additional retention fee under this subdivision. (d) Notwithstanding Section 9265, the applicant for a duplicate environmental license plate or a duplicate, replacement commemorative 1984 Olympic reflectorized license plate shall be charged a fee of thirty dollars ($30). 5107. (a) All revenue derived from the fees provided for in this article shall be deposited in the California Environmental License Plate Fund. (b) Not more than fifty cents ($0.50) of the amount collected from each applicant pursuant to Section 5106 on and after January 1, 1999, shall be set aside for use, upon appropriation by the Legislature, by the appropriate agency for the purpose of increasing public awareness of the environmental license plate program. 5108. Whenever any person who has been issued environmental license plates applies to the department for transfer of the plates to another passenger vehicle, commercial motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer a transfer fee of thirty dollars ($30) shall be charged in addition to all other appropriate fees. 5109. When any person who has been issued environmental license plates sells, trades, or otherwise releases ownership of the vehicle upon which the environmental license plates have been displayed, such person shall immediately report the transfer of such plates to an acquired passenger vehicle, commercial vehicle, or trailer pursuant to Section 5108, unless such person determines to retain the plates pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 5106. 5110. (a) The director may adopt rules and regulations as necessary to carry out the purposes of this article. (b) Whenever two or more separate series of special plates are authorized under this article in a period of one year, the director shall coordinate the administrative and technical procedures for preparation and issuance of the plates in order to control costs to the maximum extent. 5112. (a) The department shall revise its Internet Web site to provide a direct link on the homepage to information on ordering environmental license plates. (b) The department may provide links on its Internet Web site to other Internet Web sites that have information regarding the protection and management of ocean and coastal resources and other programs that are supported with funds from the Environmental License Plate Fund. (c) When existing supplies of forms, publications, and signs have been depleted, or if those forms, publications, and signs are required to be revised in the normal course of operations, the department shall include in the replenishing supplies or the revised forms, publications, and signs, information regarding environmental license plates and the procedures for applying for those plates. This subdivision applies only to forms, publications, and signs, that advertise, facilitate the application for, or are an application for environmental license plates.