Vehicles: special license plates: disabled veterans.

(1) Under existing law, the Department of Motor Vehicles is required, upon application and without additional fees, to issue a special license plate or plates to a disabled person, a disabled veteran, or an organization or agency involved in the transportation of those persons pursuant to procedures adopted by the department. Existing law requires the department, prior to issuing a special license plate to a disabled person or disabled veteran, to require the submission of a certificate signed by a medical professional, as provided, that substantiates the disability of the person or veteran, in certain situations. This bill, in addition, would require the department to accept, in lieu of the certificate signed by a medical professional, a certificate from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that certifies the applicant is a disabled veteran. (2) Existing law authorizes a disabled person or veteran to apply to the department for the issuance of a distinguishing placard to be used in lieu of the special license plate. Existing law requires the department, prior to issuing the placard to a disabled person or disabled veteran, to require the submission of a certificate signed by a medical professional, as provided, that substantiates the disability of the person or veteran, in certain situations. This bill, in addition, would require the department to accept, in lieu of the certificate signed by a medical professional, a certificate from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that certifies the applicant is a disabled veteran. (3) This bill would incorporate changes in Section 5007 of the Vehicle Code proposed by AB 2777 that would become operative only if both bills are enacted and this bill is enacted after AB 2777. This bill would also incorporate additional changes in Section 22511.55 of the Vehicle Code proposed by AB 1855, or SB 1318, or both, to be operative only if AB 1855, or SB 1318, or both, and this bill are chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2011, and this bill is chaptered last.