Vehicles: records: confidentiality.

(1) Existing law requires the residence address in a record of the Department of Motor Vehicles to be kept confidential, with specified exceptions. One exception applies to a vehicle manufacturer licensed to do business in this state if the manufacturer, or its agent, under penalty of perjury, requests and uses the information only for the purpose of safety, warranty, or product recall if the manufacturer offers to make and makes any changes at no cost to the vehicle owner. Another exception applies to a dealer licensed to do business in this state if the dealer, or its agent, under penalty of perjury, requests and uses the information only for the purpose of completing registration transactions and documents. A violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime. This bill would add an exception for an electrical corporation, as defined, or a local publicly owned electric utility, if the corporation or utility, or its agent, under penalty of perjury, requests and uses the information only for the purposes of identifying where an electric vehicle is registered and if certain conditions are met. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) 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.