AB 503: Vehicles: parking violations: registration or driver’s license renewal.

(1)Existing law, with specified exceptions, requires an agency that processes notices of parking violations and notices of delinquent parking violations to proceed under only one of 3 specified options in order to collect an unpaid parking penalty, including filing an itemization of unpaid parking penalties and service fees with the Department of Motor Vehicles for collection with the registration of the vehicle.

This bill would instead authorize a processing agency to proceed under one of those 3 specified options. With regard to the option involving an itemization of penalties and fees, the bill would authorize a processing agency, commencing July 1, 2018, to file that itemization only after the issuing agency provides a payment plan option for indigent persons, as specified, the processing agency provides notice of the payment plan and the process related to indigency determination in a specified manner, and the registered owner or lessee fails to enroll in the payment plan within the time specified in the notice or is not eligible for the payment plan, as specified. The bill would authorize a person to demonstrate that he or she is indigent by providing specified information relating to, among other things, his or her income or receipt of benefits under certain social services programs. The bill would require the processing agency to rescind the filing of an itemization of unpaid parking penalties and service fees with the department for an indigent individual, for one time only, if the registered owner or lessee subsequently enrolls in a payment plan, as specified. The bill would make conforming changes to related provisions.

This bill would require each California State University and community college district governing board, by August 1, 2018, to adopt a parking citation payment plan, with specified requirements, for individuals with multiple unpaid parking citations. The bill would require a California State University or community college district governing board that does not adopt a parking citation payment plan by the required date to implement specified payment plan provisions as described in the bill.

(2)Existing law, with specified exceptions, requires the department to refuse to renew the registration of a vehicle if the registered owner or lessee has been mailed a notice of a delinquent parking violation relating to standing or parking, the processing agency has filed or electronically transmitted to the department an itemization of unpaid parking penalties, and the owner or lessee has not paid the parking penalties, unless he or she pays to the department, at the time of application for renewal, the full amount of all outstanding parking penalties and administrative fees, as shown by records of the department.

This bill would add an exception to the requirement to refuse to renew the registration if the itemization of unpaid parking penalties has been rescinded. The bill would also require the department to allow a registered owner or lessee to file a certification that the vehicle will not be operated, moved, or left standing upon a highway if the registered owner or lessee currently owes parking penalties and administrative fees for that vehicle, regardless of whether or not that registered owner or lessee is currently on an active payment plan, as specified.

(3)Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to refuse to issue or renew a drivers license if the applicant has been mailed a notice of his or her delinquent parking violation relating to standing or parking, the processing agency has filed or electronically transmitted to the department an itemization of unpaid parking penalties, including administrative fees, and the applicant has not paid the parking penalty and administrative fee, unless the applicant pays to the department, at the time of application, the full amount of all outstanding parking penalties and administrative fees, as shown by records of the department.

This bill would repeal that provision and make a conforming change.