Vehicle registration fees: penalties.

Existing law authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles to impose a registration fee for vehicles registered for use in California. Existing law imposes penalties for the failure of a person to pay the registration fee. Existing law permits the department to suspend, cancel, or revoke the registration of a vehicle when the department determines that the required fee has not been paid. Existing law requires, prior to the expiration of the registration of a vehicle, if that registration is not to be renewed prior to its expiration, the owner of the vehicle to file a specified certification that the vehicle will not be operated, moved, or left standing upon a highway without first making an application for registration of the vehicle, including full payment of all fees, except as specified. Existing law authorizes certifications to be filed after the expiration of the registration, but not later than 90 days after the expiration date, subject to the payment of specified filing fees and delinquency penalties. This bill would, notwithstanding any law, prohibit a person who is subject to these delinquency penalties and has been determined to have a current income level that meets the eligibility requirements for specified public social services programs, including, among others, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, from being required to pay the delinquency penalty in order to renew the registration of their vehicle. The bill would instead authorize the person to delay payment of their penalty until after the vehicle is registered, but by no later than the expiration date of the vehicle's registration. If the delayed penalty payment is not received by the expiration date of the vehicle's registration, the bill would prohibit the person from renewing their registration the following year until the penalty is paid.