California AB 1215 : Annotated Sections Compiled by VinAudit.com Section 1, 2
  1 + SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the
  2 + following:
  3 + (a) There are more than 30 million vehicles registered in the
  4 + State of California. Maintenance by the Department of Motor Vehicles
  5 + of accurate registration records for those vehicles is of vital
  6 + importance to registered owners, legal owners that hold liens on
  7 + vehicles, law enforcement agencies that police vehicles, tax
  8 + collection agencies that collect taxes and fees assessed on vehicles,
  9 + and pollution control agencies that regulate emissions produced by
  10 + vehicles.
  11 + (b) As authorized by the Legislature in 2001, the department
  12 + administers the Business Partner Automation Program, pursuant to
  13 + Section 1685 of the Vehicle Code, to improve the quality of
  14 + registration products and services by licensing qualified private
  15 + industry partners to provide secure electronic portals to licensed
  16 + dealers and registration services so that they may perform required
  17 + registration tasks electronically.
  18 + (c) Electronic vehicle registration under the Business Partner
  19 + Automation Program results in multiple benefits. The department
  20 + benefits through increased accuracy of records that are recorded and
  21 + transmitted electronically and also benefits through processing
  22 + efficiencies that reduce wait times in field offices for
  23 + nonelectronic transactions. Electronic registration also aids law
  24 + enforcement, other government agencies, and consumers by accelerating
  25 + the issuance of permanent license plates from a period of weeks or
  26 + months to days.
  27 + (d) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this act to
  28 + further increase the registration benefits and efficiencies of the
  29 + department’s Business Partner Automation Program by requiring all
  30 + eligible vehicles sold or leased by a new motor vehicle dealer to be
  31 + registered electronically. It is also the intent of the Legislature
  32 + that the department continues to improve and expand the quality and
  33 + efficiency of the Business Partner Automation Program to permit
  34 + existing department personnel to increase customer service in other
  35 + areas without a workforce reduction.
  36 + SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
  37 + (a) The electronic National Motor Vehicle Title Information System
  38 + (NMVTIS) is a national federally mandated vehicle history database
  39 + maintained by the United States Department of Justice to ensure that
  40 + states, law enforcement agencies, and consumers have access to
  41 + vehicle titling, branding, and other information that enable them to
  42 + verify the accuracy and legality of motor vehicle titles before
  43 + transfer or registration of the vehicle occurs.
  44 + (b) According to a cost-benefit analysis commissioned by the
  45 + United States Department of Justice, full implementation of NMVTIS
  46 + will save the American public between $4.3 billion and $11.7 billion
  47 + by helping to curb automobile-related salvage fraud, theft, and
  48 + related crimes.
  49 + (c) All automobile insurers, self-insured entities, salvage pools,
  50 + automobile auctions, and recyclers, are required to report vehicles
  51 + that are deemed a total loss to NMVTIS and update the data at least
  52 + every 30 days.
  53 + (d) According to NMVTIS, 87 percent of departments of motor
  54 + vehicle titling data from the entire United States, including all of
  55 + the California Department of Motor Vehicles titling data, is
  56 + currently represented in NMVTIS and the database is expanding daily.
  57 + (e) Federal law provides that NMVTIS must be supported through
  58 + user fees from government and private users and may not be dependent
  59 + on federal funding. The NMVTIS operator is authorized to assess and
  60 + collect user fees not to exceed the cost of operating the system, not
  61 + permitting any profits to be made by the operator. Federal funding
  62 + and investments by the NMVTIS operator account for over $40 million
  63 + in support of operations since 1997. Fees to state government users
  64 + are not projected to be adequate to provide sufficient revenue to
  65 + defray all anticipated operating costs. It is crucial to the success
  66 + of NMVTIS that new applications be developed to generate sufficient
  67 + nonstate government user fees so that NMVTIS may continue its
  68 + operations.
  69 + (f) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting Section 17 of
  70 + this act to ensure that every motor vehicle dealer licensed in this
  71 + state obtain a NMVTIS vehicle history report for every used vehicle
  72 + that will be offered for retail sale and that any used vehicle that
  73 + has been titled or reported as salvage or junk as indicated by the
  74 + NMVTIS vehicle history report be identified as such. By becoming the
  75 + first and largest state in the country to require the use of NMVTIS
  76 + vehicle history reports by dealers in retail used vehicle
  77 + transactions, this act will not only benefit the California consumer,
  78 + it will also strengthen and financially support NMVTIS.
  Section 3 and 4 (merged)
1   – SEC. 3. Section 2982 of the Civil Code is amended to read:
2   – 2982. A conditional sale contract subject to this chapter shall
  1 + SEC. 4. Section 2982 is added to the Civil Code, to read:
  2 + 2982. A conditional sale contract subject to this chapter shall
3 3 contain the disclosures required by Regulation Z, whether or not
4 4 Regulation Z applies to the transaction. In addition, to the extent
5 5 applicable, the contract shall contain the other disclosures and
6 6 notices required by, and shall satisfy the requirements and
7 7 limitations of, this section. The disclosures required by subdivision
8 8 (a) may be itemized or subtotaled to a greater extent than as
9 9 required by that subdivision and shall be made together and in the
10 10 sequence set forth in that subdivision. All other disclosures and
11 11 notices may appear in the contract in any location or sequence and
12 12 may be combined or interspersed with other provisions of the
13 13 contract.
14 14 (a) The contract shall contain the following disclosures, as
15 15 applicable, which shall be labeled “itemization of the amount
16 16 financed”:
17   – (1) (A) The cash price, exclusive of document preparation fees,
18   – business partnership automation fees, taxes imposed on the sale,
19   – pollution control certification fees, prior credit or lease balance
20   – on property being traded in, the amount charged for a service
21   – contract, the amount charged for a theft deterrent system, the amount
22   – charged for a surface protection product, the amount charged for an
23   – optional debt cancellation agreement, and the amount charged for a
24   – contract cancellation option agreement.
25   – (B) The fee to be retained by the seller for document preparation.
  17 + (1) (A) The cash price, exclusive of document processing charges,
  18 + charges to electronically register or transfer the vehicle, taxes
  19 + imposed on the sale, pollution control certification fees, prior
  20 + credit or lease balance on property being traded in, the amount
  21 + charged for a service contract, the amount charged for a theft
  22 + deterrent system, the amount charged for a surface protection
  23 + product, the amount charged for an optional debt cancellation
  24 + agreement, and the amount charged for a contract cancellation option
  25 + agreement.
  26 + (B) The charge to be retained by the seller for document
  27 + processing authorized pursuant to Section 4456.5 of the Vehicle Code.
26 28  
27 29 (C) The fee charged by the seller for certifying that the motor
28 30 vehicle complies with applicable pollution control requirements.
29 31 (D) A charge for a theft deterrent device.
30 32 (E) A charge for a surface protection product.
31 33 (F) Taxes imposed on the sale.
32   – (G) The amount of any optional business partnership automation fee
33   – to register or transfer the vehicle, which shall be labeled
34   – “Optional DMV Electronic Filing Fee.”
  34 + (G) The charge to electronically register or transfer the vehicle
  35 + authorized pursuant to Section 4456.5 of the Vehicle Code.
35 36 (H) The amount charged for a service contract.
36 37 (I) The prior credit or lease balance remaining on property being
37 38 traded in, as required by paragraph (6). The disclosure required by
38 39 this subparagraph shall be labeled “prior credit or lease balance
39 40 (see downpayment and trade-in calculation).”
40 41 (J) Any charge for an optional debt cancellation agreement.
41 42 (K) Any charge for a used vehicle contract cancellation option
42 43 agreement.
43 44 (L) The total cash price, which is the sum of subparagraphs (A) to
44 45 (K), inclusive.
45 46 (M) The disclosures described in subparagraphs (D), (E), and (K)
46 47 are not required on contracts involving the sale of a motorcycle, as
47 48 defined in Section 400 of the Vehicle Code, or on contracts involving
48 49 the sale of an off-highway motor vehicle that is subject to
49 50 identification under Section 38010 of the Vehicle Code, and the
50 51 amounts of those charges, if any, are not required to be reflected in
51 52 the total price under subparagraph (L).
52 53 (2) Amounts paid to public officials for the following:
53 54 (A) Vehicle license fees.
54 55 (B) Registration, transfer, and titling fees.
55 56 (C) California tire fees imposed pursuant to Section 42885 of the
56 57 Public Resources Code.
57 58 (3) The aggregate amount of premiums agreed, upon execution of the
58 59 contract, to be paid for policies of insurance included in the
59 60 contract, excluding the amount of any insurance premium included in
60 61 the finance charge.
61 62 (4) The amount of the state fee for issuance of a certificate of
62 63 compliance, noncompliance, exemption, or waiver pursuant to any
63 64 applicable pollution control statute.
64 65 (5) A subtotal representing the sum of the amounts described in
65 66 paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive.
66 67 (6) The amount of the buyer’s downpayment itemized to show the
67 68 following:
68 69 (A) The agreed value of the property being traded in.
69 70 (B) The prior credit or lease balance, if any, owing on the
70 71 property being traded in.
71 72 (C) The net agreed value of the property being traded in, which is
72 73 the difference between the amounts disclosed in subparagraphs (A)
73 74 and (B). If the prior credit or lease balance of the property being
74 75 traded in exceeds the agreed value of the property, a negative number
75 76 shall be stated.
76 77 (D) The amount of any portion of the downpayment to be deferred
77 78 until not later than the due date of the second regularly scheduled
78 79 installment under the contract and that is not subject to a finance
79 80 charge.
80 81 (E) The amount of any manufacturer’s rebate applied or to be
81 82 applied to the downpayment.
82 83 (F) The remaining amount paid or to be paid by the buyer as a
83 84 downpayment.
84 85 (G) The total downpayment. If the sum of subparagraphs (C) to (F),
85 86 inclusive, is zero or more, that sum shall be stated as the total
86 87 downpayment and no amount shall be stated as the prior credit or
87 88 lease balance under subparagraph (I) of paragraph (1). If the sum of
88 89 subparagraphs (C) to (F), inclusive, is less than zero, then that
89 90 sum, expressed as a positive number, shall be stated as the prior
90 91 credit or lease balance under subparagraph (I) of paragraph (1), and
91 92 zero shall be stated as the total downpayment. The disclosure
92 93 required by this subparagraph shall be labeled “total downpayment”
93 94 and shall contain a descriptor indicating that if the total
94 95 downpayment is a negative number, a zero shall be disclosed as the
95 96 total downpayment and a reference made that the remainder shall be
96 97 included in the disclosure required pursuant to subparagraph (I) of
97 98 paragraph (1).
98 99 (7) The amount of any administrative finance charge, labeled
99 100 “prepaid finance charge.”
100 101 (8) The difference between the amount described in paragraph (5)
101 102 and the sum of the amounts described in paragraphs (6) and (7),
102 103 labeled “amount financed.”
103 104 (b) No particular terminology is required to disclose the items
104 105 set forth in subdivision (a) except as expressly provided in that
105 106 subdivision.
106 107 (c) If payment of all or a portion of the downpayment is to be
107 108 deferred, the deferred payment shall be reflected in the payment
108 109 schedule disclosed pursuant to Regulation Z.
109 110 (d) If the downpayment includes property being traded in, the
110 111 contract shall contain a brief description of that property.
111 112 (e) The contract shall contain the names and addresses of all
112 113 persons to whom the notice required pursuant to Section 2983.2 and
113 114 permitted pursuant to Sections 2983.5 and 2984 is to be sent.
114 115 (f) (1) If the contract includes a finance charge determined on
115 116 the precomputed basis, the contract shall identify the method of
116 117 computing the unearned portion of the finance charge in the event of
117 118 prepayment in full of the buyer’s obligation and contain a statement
118 119 of the amount or method of computation of any charge that may be
119 120 deducted from the amount of any unearned finance charge in computing
120 121 the amount that will be credited to the obligation or refunded to the
121 122 buyer. The method of computing the unearned portion of the finance
122 123 charge shall be sufficiently identified with a reference to the
123 124 actuarial method if the computation will be under that method. The
124 125 method of computing the unearned portion of the finance charge shall
125 126 be sufficiently identified with a reference to the Rule of 78’s, the
126 127 sum of the digits, or the sum of the periodic time balances method in
127 128 all other cases, and those references shall be deemed to be
128 129 equivalent for disclosure purposes.
129 130 (2) If the contract includes a finance charge that is determined
130 131 on the simple-interest basis but provides for a minimum finance
131 132 charge in the event of prepayment in full, the contract shall contain
132 133 a statement of that fact and the amount of the minimum finance
133 134 charge or its method of calculation.
134 135 (g) (1) If the contract includes a finance charge that is
135 136 determined on the precomputed basis and provides that the unearned
136 137 portion of the finance charge to be refunded upon full prepayment of
137 138 the contract is to be determined by a method other than actuarial,
138 139 the contract shall contain a notice, in at least 10-point boldface
139 140 type if the contract is printed, reading as follows: “Notice to
140 141 buyer: (1) Do not sign this agreement before you read it or if it
141 142 contains any blank spaces to be filled in. (2) You are entitled to a
142 143 completely filled-in copy of this agreement. (3) You can prepay the
143 144 full amount due under this agreement at any time and obtain a
144 145 partial refund of the finance charge if it is $1 or more. Because of
145 146 the way the amount of this refund will be figured, the time when you
146 147 prepay could increase the ultimate cost of credit under this
147 148 agreement. (4) If you default in the performance of your obligations
148 149 under this agreement, the vehicle may be repossessed and you may be
149 150 subject to suit and liability for the unpaid indebtedness evidenced
150 151 by this agreement.”
151 152 (2) If the contract includes a finance charge that is determined
152 153 on the precomputed basis and provides for the actuarial method for
153 154 computing the unearned portion of the finance charge upon prepayment
154 155 in full, the contract shall contain a notice, in at least 10-point
155 156 boldface type if the contract is printed, reading as follows:
156 157 “Notice to buyer: (1) Do not sign this agreement before you read it
157 158 or if it contains any blank spaces to be filled in. (2) You are
158 159 entitled to a completely filled-in copy of this agreement. (3) You
159 160 can prepay the full amount due under this agreement at any time and
160 161 obtain a partial refund of the finance charge if it is $1 or more.
161 162 (4) If you default in the performance of your obligations under this
162 163 agreement, the vehicle may be repossessed and you may be subject to
163 164 suit and liability for the unpaid indebtedness evidenced by this
164 165 agreement.”
165 166 (3) If the contract includes a finance charge that is determined
166 167 on the simple-interest basis, the contract shall contain a notice, in
167 168 at least 10-point boldface type if the contract is printed, reading
168 169 as follows: “Notice to buyer: (1) Do not sign this agreement before
169 170 you read it or if it contains any blank spaces to be filled in. (2)
170 171 You are entitled to a completely filled-in copy of this agreement.
171 172 (3) You can prepay the full amount due under this agreement at any
172 173 time. (4) If you default in the performance of your obligations
173 174 under this agreement, the vehicle may be repossessed and you may be
174 175 subject to suit and liability for the unpaid indebtedness evidenced
175 176 by this agreement.”
176 177 (h) The contract shall contain a notice in at least 8-point
177 178 boldface type, acknowledged by the buyer, that reads as follows:
178 179  
179 180 “If you have a complaint concerning this sale, you should try to
180 181 resolve it with the seller.
181 182 Complaints concerning unfair or deceptive practices or methods by
182 183 the seller may be referred to the city attorney, the district
183 184 attorney, or an investigator for the Department of Motor Vehicles, or
184 185 any combination thereof.
185 186 After this contract is signed, the seller may not change the
186 187 financing or payment terms unless you agree in writing to the change.
187 188 You do not have to agree to any change, and it is an unfair or
188 189 deceptive practice for the seller to make a unilateral change.
189 190 ——————————-
190 191 Buyer’s Signature”
191 192  
192 193  
193 194 (i) (1) The contract shall contain an itemization of any insurance
194 195 included as part of the amount financed disclosed pursuant to
195 196 paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) and of any insurance included as
196 197 part of the finance charge. The itemization shall identify the type
197 198 of insurance coverage and the premium charged therefor, and, if the
198 199 insurance expires before the date of the last scheduled installment
199 200 included in the repayment schedule, the term of the insurance shall
200 201 be stated.
201 202 (2) If any charge for insurance, other than for credit life or
202 203 disability, is included in the contract balance and disbursement of
203 204 any part thereof is to be made more than one year after the date of
204 205 the conditional sale contract, any finance charge on the amount to be
205 206 disbursed after one year shall be computed from the month the
206 207 disbursement is to be made to the due date of the last installment
207 208 under the conditional sale contract.
208 209 (j) (1) Except for contracts in which the finance charge or a
209 210 portion of the finance charge is determined by the simple-interest
210 211 basis and the amount financed disclosed pursuant to paragraph (8) of
211 212 subdivision (a) is more than two thousand five hundred dollars
212 213 ($2,500), the dollar amount of the disclosed finance charge may not
213 214 exceed the greater of:
214 215 (A) (i) One and one-half percent on so much of the unpaid balance
215 216 as does not exceed two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225), 11/6
216 217 percent on so much of the unpaid balance in excess of two hundred
217 218 twenty-five dollars ($225) as does not exceed nine hundred dollars
218 219 ($900) and five-sixths of 1 percent on so much of the unpaid balance
219 220 in excess of nine hundred dollars ($900) as does not exceed two
220 221 thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500).
221 222 (ii) One percent of the entire unpaid balance; multiplied in
222 223 either case by the number of months (computed on the basis of a full
223 224 month for any fractional month period in excess of 15 days) elapsing
224 225 between the date of the contract and the due date of the last
225 226 installment.
226 227 (B) If the finance charge is determined by the precomputed basis,
227 228 twenty-five dollars ($25).
228 229 (C) If the finance charge or a portion thereof is determined by
229 230 the simple-interest basis:
230 231 (i) Twenty-five dollars ($25) if the unpaid balance does not
231 232 exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).
232 233 (ii) Fifty dollars ($50) if the unpaid balance exceeds one
233 234 thousand dollars ($1,000) but does not exceed two thousand dollars
234 235 ($2,000).
235 236 (iii) Seventy-five dollars ($75) if the unpaid balance exceeds two
236 237 thousand dollars ($2,000).
237 238 (2) The holder of the contract shall not charge, collect, or
238 239 receive a finance charge that exceeds the disclosed finance charge,
239 240 except to the extent (A) caused by the holder’s receipt of one or
240 241 more payments under a contract that provides for determination of the
241 242 finance charge or a portion thereof on the 365-day basis at a time
242 243 or times other than as originally scheduled whether or not the
243 244 parties enter into an agreement pursuant to Section 2982.3, (B)
244 245 permitted by paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of subdivision (c) of Section
245 246 226.17 of Regulation Z, or (C) permitted by subdivisions (a) and (c)
246 247 of Section 2982.8.
247 248 (3) If the finance charge or a portion thereof is determined by
248 249 the simple-interest basis and the amount of the unpaid balance
249 250 exceeds five thousand dollars ($5,000), the holder of the contract
250 251 may, in lieu of its right to a minimum finance charge under
251 252 subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1), charge, receive, or collect on the
252 253 date of the contract an administrative finance charge not to exceed
253 254 seventy-five dollars ($75), provided that the sum of the
254 255 administrative finance charge and the portion of the finance charge
255 256 determined by the simple-interest basis shall not exceed the maximum
256 257 total finance charge permitted by subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1).
257 258 Any administrative finance charge that is charged, received, or
258 259 collected by a holder shall be deemed a finance charge earned on the
259 260 date of the contract.
260 261 (4) If a contract provides for unequal or irregular payments, or
261 262 payments on other than a monthly basis, the maximum finance charge
262 263 shall be at the effective rate provided for in paragraph (1), having
263 264 due regard for the schedule of installments.
264 265 (k) The contract may provide that for each installment in default
265 266 for a period of not less than 10 days the buyer shall pay a
266 267 delinquency charge in an amount not to exceed in the aggregate 5
267 268 percent of the delinquent installment, which amount may be collected
268 269 only once on any installment regardless of the period during which it
269 270 remains in default. Payments timely received by the seller under an
270 271 extension or deferral agreement may not be subject to a delinquency
271 272 charge unless the charge is permitted by Section 2982.3. The contract
272 273 may provide for reasonable collection costs and fees in the event of
273 274 delinquency.
274 275 ( l ) Notwithstanding any provision of a contract to
275 276 the contrary, the buyer may pay at any time before maturity the
276 277 entire indebtedness evidenced by the contract without penalty. In the
277 278 event of prepayment in full:
278 279 (1) If the finance charge was determined on the precomputed basis,
279 280 the amount required to prepay the contract shall be the outstanding
280 281 contract balance as of that date, provided, however, that the buyer
281 282 shall be entitled to a refund credit in the amount of the unearned
282 283 portion of the finance charge, except as provided in paragraphs (3)
283 284 and (4). The amount of the unearned portion of the finance charge
284 285 shall be at least as great a proportion of the finance charge,
285 286 including any additional finance charge imposed pursuant to Section
286 287 2982.8 or other additional charge imposed because the contract has
287 288 been extended, deferred, or refinanced, as the sum of the periodic
288 289 monthly time balances payable more than 15 days after the date of
289 290 prepayment bears to the sum of all the periodic monthly time balances
290 291 under the schedule of installments in the contract or, if the
291 292 contract has been extended, deferred, or refinanced, as so extended,
292 293 deferred, or refinanced. If the amount of the refund credit is less
293 294 than one dollar ($1), no refund credit need be made by the holder.
294 295 Any refund credit may be made in cash or credited to the outstanding
295 296 obligations of the buyer under the contract.
296 297 (2) If the finance charge or a portion of the finance charge was
297 298 determined on the simple-interest basis, the amount required to
298 299 prepay the contract shall be the outstanding contract balance as of
299 300 that date, including any earned finance charges that are unpaid as of
300 301 that date and, if applicable, the amount provided in paragraph (3),
301 302 and provided further that in cases where a finance charge is
302 303 determined on the 360-day basis, the payments received under the
303 304 contract shall be assumed to have been received on their respective
304 305 due dates regardless of the actual dates on which the payments were
305 306 received.
306 307 (3) If the minimum finance charge provided by subparagraph (B) or
307 308 subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (j), if either is
308 309 applicable, is greater than the earned finance charge as of the date
309 310 of prepayment, the holder shall be additionally entitled to the
310 311 difference.
311 312 (4) This subdivision shall not impair the right of the seller or
312 313 the seller’s assignee to receive delinquency charges on delinquent
313 314 installments and reasonable costs and fees as provided in subdivision
314 315 (k) or extension or deferral agreement charges as provided in
315 316 Section 2982.3.
316 317 (5) Notwithstanding any provision of a contract to the contrary,
317 318 if the indebtedness created by any contract is satisfied prior to its
318 319 maturity through surrender of the motor vehicle, repossession of the
319 320 motor vehicle, redemption of the motor vehicle after repossession,
320 321 or any judgment, the outstanding obligation of the buyer shall be
321 322 determined as provided in paragraph (1) or (2). Notwithstanding, the
322 323 buyer’s outstanding obligation shall be computed by the holder as of
323 324 the date the holder recovers the value of the motor vehicle through
324 325 disposition thereof or judgment is entered or, if the holder elects
325 326 to keep the motor vehicle in satisfaction of the buyer’s
326 327 indebtedness, as of the date the holder takes possession of the motor
327 328 vehicle.
328 329 (m) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the
329 330 contrary, any information required to be disclosed in a conditional
330 331 sale contract under this chapter may be disclosed in any manner,
331 332 method, or terminology required or permitted under Regulation Z, as
332 333 in effect at the time that disclosure is made, except that permitted
333 334 by paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 226.18 of Regulation
334 335 Z, if all of the requirements and limitations set forth in
335 336 subdivision (a) are satisfied. This chapter does not prohibit the
336 337 disclosure in that contract of additional information required or
337 338 permitted under Regulation Z, as in effect at the time that
338 339 disclosure is made.
339   – (n) If the seller imposes a fee for document preparation, the
340   – contract shall contain a disclosure that the fee is not a
341   – governmental fee.
  340 + (n) If the seller imposes a charge for document processing or to
  341 + electronically register or transfer the vehicle, the contract shall
  342 + contain a disclosure that the charge is not a governmental fee.
342 343 (o) A seller shall not impose an application fee for a transaction
343 344 governed by this chapter.
344 345 (p) The seller or holder may charge and collect a fee not to
345 346 exceed fifteen dollars ($15) for the return by a depository
346 347 institution of a dishonored check, negotiated order of withdrawal, or
347 348 share draft issued in connection with the contract if the contract
348 349 so provides or if the contract contains a generalized statement that
349 350 the buyer may be liable for collection costs incurred in connection
350 351 with the contract.
351 352 (q) The contract shall disclose on its face, by printing the word
352 353 “new” or “used” within a box outlined in red, that is not smaller
353 354 than one-half inch high and one-half inch wide, whether the vehicle
354 355 is sold as a new vehicle, as defined in Section 430 of the Vehicle
355 356 Code, or as a used vehicle, as defined in Section 665 of the Vehicle
356 357 Code.
357 358 (r) The contract shall contain a notice with a heading in at least
358 359 12-point bold type and the text in at least 10-point bold type,
359 360 circumscribed by a line, immediately above the contract signature
360 361 line, that reads as follows:
361 362 THERE IS NO COOLING-OFF PERIOD UNLESS
362 363 YOU
363 364 OBTAIN A CONTRACT CANCELLATION
364 365 OPTION.
365 366 California law does not provide for a
366 367 “”cooling-off” or other cancellation period
367 368 for vehicle sales. Therefore, you cannot
368 369 later cancel this contract simply because you
369 370 change your mind, decide the vehicle costs
370 371 too much, or wish you had acquired a
371 372 different vehicle. After you sign below, you
372 373 may only cancel this contract with the
373 374 agreement of the seller or for legal cause,
374 375 such as
375 376 fraud.
376 377 However, California law does require a seller
377 378 to offer a 2-day contract cancellation option
378 379 on used vehicles with a purchase price of
379 380 less than $40,000, subject to certain
380 381 statutory conditions. This contract
381 382 cancellation option requirement does not
382 383 apply to the sale of a recreational vehicle,
383 384 a motorcycle, or an off-highway motor vehicle
384 385 subject to identification under California
385 386 law. See the vehicle contract cancellation
386 387 option agreement for details.
390   – (s) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2012, and, as
391   – of January 1, 2013, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that
392   – is enacted before January 1, 2013, deletes or extends the dates on
393   – which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
  391 + (s) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2012.
  Section 5 and 6 (merged)
1   – SEC. 5. Section 2985.8 of the Civil Code is amended to read:
2   – 2985.8. (a) A lease contract shall be in writing and the print
  1 + SEC. 6. Section 2985.8 is added to the Civil Code, to read:
  2 + 2985.8. (a) A lease contract shall be in writing, and the print
3 3 portion of the contract shall be printed in at least 8-point type and
4 4 shall contain in a single document all of the agreements of the
5 5 lessor and lessee with respect to the obligations of each party.
6 6 (b) At the top of the lease contract, a title that contains the
7 7 words “LEASE CONTRACT” or “LEASE AGREEMENT” shall appear in at least
8 8 12-point boldface type.
9 9 (c) A lease contract shall disclose all of the following:
10 10 (1) All of the information prescribed by Regulation M set forth in
11 11 the manner required or permitted by Regulation M, whether or not
12 12 Regulation M applies to the transaction.
13 13 (2) A separate statement labeled “Itemization of Gross Capitalized
14 14 Cost” that shall appear immediately following or directly adjacent
15 15 to the disclosures required to be segregated by Regulation M. The
16 16 Itemization of Gross Capitalized Cost shall include all of the
17 17 following and shall be circumscribed by a line:
18 18 (A) The agreed-upon value of the vehicle as equipped at the time
19 19 of signing the lease.
20 20 (B) The agreed-upon value and a description of each accessory and
21 21 item of optional equipment the lessor agrees to add to the vehicle
22 22 after signing the lease.
23 23 (C) The premium for each policy of insurance.
24 24 (D) The amount charged for each service contract.
25 25 (E) Any charge for an optional debt cancellation agreement.
26 26 (F) Any outstanding prior credit or lease balance.
27 27 (G) An itemization by type and agreed-upon value of each good or
28 28 service included in the gross capitalized cost other than those items
29 29 included in the disclosures required in subparagraphs (A) to (F),
30 30 inclusive.
31 31 (3) The vehicle identification number of the leased vehicle.
32 32 (4) A brief description of each vehicle or other property being
33 33 traded in and the agreed-upon value of the vehicle or property if the
34 34 amount due at the time of signing the lease or upon delivery is paid
35 35 in whole or in part with a net trade-in allowance or the
36 36 “Itemization of Gross Capitalized Cost” includes any portion of the
37 37 outstanding prior credit or lease balance from the trade-in property.
38 38  
39   – (5) The fee, if any, to be retained by the lessor for document
40   – preparation, which fee may not exceed forty-five dollars ($45) and
41   – shall not be represented as a governmental fee.
42   – (6) The amount of any optional business partnership automation
43   – program fee to register or transfer the vehicle, which shall be
44   – labeled “Optional DMV Electronic Filing Fee.”
  39 + (5) The charge, if any, to be retained by the lessor for document
  40 + processing authorized pursuant to Section 4456.5 of the Vehicle Code,
  41 + which may not be represented as a governmental fee.
  42 + (6) The charge, if any, to electronically register or transfer the
  43 + vehicle authorized pursuant to Section 4456.5 of the Vehicle Code,
  44 + which shall not be represented as a governmental fee.
45 45 (d) A lease contract shall contain, in at least 8-point boldface
46 46 type, above the space provided for the lessee’s signature and
47 47 circumscribed by a line, the following notice: “(1) Do not sign this
48 48 lease before you read it or if it contains any blank spaces to be
49 49 filled in; (2) You are entitled to a completely filled in copy of
50 50 this lease; (3) Warning–Unless a charge is included in this lease
51 51 for public liability or property damage insurance, payment for that
52 52 coverage is not provided by this lease.”
53 53 (e) A lease contract shall contain, in at least 8-point boldface
54 54 type, on the first page of the contract and circumscribed by a line,
55 55 the following notice:
56 56 “THERE IS NO COOLING OFF PERIOD
57 57  
58 58 California law does not provide for a “cooling off” or other
59 59 cancellation period for vehicle leases. Therefore, you cannot later
60 60 cancel this lease simply because you change your mind, decided the
61 61 vehicle costs too much, or wish you had acquired a different vehicle.
62 62 You may cancel this lease only with the agreement of the lessor or
63 63 for legal cause, such as fraud.”
64 64  
65 65 (f) A lease contract shall contain, in at least 8-point boldface
66 66 type, the following notice: “You have the right to return the
67 67 vehicle, and receive a refund of any payments made if the credit
68 68 application is not approved, unless nonapproval results from an
69 69 incomplete application or from incorrect information provided by you.”
70 70  
71 71 (g) The lease contract shall be signed by the lessor and lessee,
72 72 or their authorized representatives, and an exact copy of the fully
73 73 executed lease contract shall be provided to the lessee at the time
74 74 of signing.
75 75 (h) A motor vehicle shall not be delivered under a lease contract
76 76 subject to this chapter until the lessor provides to the lessee a
77 77 fully executed copy of the lease contract.
78 78 (i) The lessor shall not obtain the signature of the lessee to a
79 79 contract when it contains blank spaces to be filled in after it has
80 80 been signed.
81 81 (j) If the lease contract contains a provision that holds the
82 82 lessee liable for the difference between (1) the adjusted capitalized
83 83 cost disclosed in the lease contract reduced by the amounts
84 84 described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of
85 85 Section 2987 and (2) the settlement proceeds of the lessee’s required
86 86 insurance and deductible in the event of theft or damage to the
87 87 vehicle that results in a total loss, the lease contract shall
88 88 contain the following notice in at least 8-point boldface type on the
89 89 first page of the contract:
90 90 “GAP LIABILITY NOTICE
91 91  
92 92 In the event of theft or damage to the vehicle that results in a
93 93 total loss, there may be a GAP between the amount due upon early
94 94 termination and the proceeds of your insurance settlement and
95 95 deductible. THIS LEASE PROVIDES THAT YOU ARE LIABLE FOR THE GAP
96 96 AMOUNT. Optional coverage for the GAP amount may be offered for an
97 97 additional price.”
98 98  
99   – (k) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2012, and, as
100   – of January 1, 2013, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that
101   – is enacted before January 1, 2013, deletes or extends the dates on
102   – which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
  99 + (k) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2012.
  Section 7 and 8 (merged)
1   – SEC. 7. Section 4456 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
  1 + SEC. 8. Section 4456 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
2 2 4456. (a) When selling a vehicle, dealers and lessor-retailers
3 3 shall use numbered report-of-sale forms issued by the department. The
4 4 forms shall be used in accordance with the following terms and
5 5 conditions:
6 6 (1) The dealer or lessor-retailer shall attach for display a copy
7 7 of the report of sale on the vehicle before the vehicle is delivered
8 8 to the purchaser.
9 9 (2) The dealer or lessor-retailer shall submit to the department
10 10 an application accompanied by all fees and penalties due for
11 11 registration or transfer of registration of the vehicle within 30
12 12 days from the date of sale, as provided in subdivision (c) of Section
13 13 9553, if the vehicle is a used vehicle, and 20 days if the vehicle
14 14 is a new vehicle. Penalties due for noncompliance with this paragraph
15 15 shall be paid by the dealer or lessor-retailer. The dealer or
16 16 lessor-retailer shall not charge the purchaser for the penalties.
17 17 (3) As part of an application to transfer registration of a used
18 18 vehicle, the dealer or lessor-retailer shall include all of the
19 19 following information on the certificate of title, application for a
20 20 duplicate certificate of title, or form prescribed by the department:
21 21  
22 22 (A) Date of sale and report of sale number.
23 23 (B) Purchaser’s name and address.
24 24 (C) Dealer’s name, address, number, and signature or signature of
25 25 authorized agent.
26 26 (D) Salesperson number.
27 27 (4) If the department returns an application and the application
28 28 was first received by the department within 30 days of the date of
29 29 sale of the vehicle if the vehicle is a used vehicle, and 20 days if
30 30 the vehicle is a new vehicle, the dealer or lessor-retailer shall
31 31 submit a corrected application to the department within 50 days from
32 32 the date of sale of the vehicle if the vehicle is a used vehicle, and
33 33 40 days if the vehicle is a new vehicle, or within 30 days from the
34 34 date that the application is first returned by the department if the
35 35 vehicle is a used vehicle, and 20 days if the vehicle is a new
36 36 vehicle, whichever is later.
37 37 (5) If the department returns an application and the application
38 38 was first received by the department more than 30 days from the date
39 39 of sale of the vehicle if the vehicle is a used vehicle, and 20 days
40 40 if the vehicle is a new vehicle, the dealer or lessor-retailer shall
41 41 submit a corrected application to the department within 50 days from
42 42 the date of sale of the vehicle if the vehicle is a used vehicle, and
43 43 40 days if the vehicle is a new vehicle.
44 44 (6) An application first received by the department more than 50
45 45 days from the date of sale of the vehicle if the vehicle is a used
46 46 vehicle, and 40 days if the vehicle is a new vehicle, is subject to
47 47 the penalties specified in subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section
48 48 4456.1.
49 49 (7) The dealer or lessor-retailer shall report the sale pursuant
50 50 to Section 5901.
51 51 (b) (1) A transfer that takes place through a dealer conducting a
52 52 wholesale vehicle auction shall be reported to the department by that
53 53 dealer on a single form approved by the department. The completed
54 54 form shall contain, at a minimum, all of the following information:
55 55 (A) The name and address of the seller.
56 56 (B) The seller’s dealer number, if applicable.
57 57 (C) The date of delivery to the dealer conducting the auction.
58 58 (D) The actual mileage of the vehicle as indicated by the vehicle’
59 59 s odometer at the time of delivery to the dealer conducting the
60 60 auction.
61 61 (E) The name, address, and occupational license number of the
62 62 dealer conducting the auction.
63 63 (F) The name, address, and occupational license number of the
64 64 buyer.
65 65 (G) The signature of the dealer conducting the auction.
66 66 (2) Submission of the completed form specified in paragraph (1) to
67 67 the department shall fully satisfy the requirements of subdivision
68 68 (a) and subdivision (a) of Section 5901 with respect to the dealer
69 69 selling at auction and the dealer conducting the auction.
70 70 (3) The single form required by this subdivision does not relieve
71 71 a dealer of any obligation or responsibility that is required by any
72 72 other provision of law.
73 73 (c) A vehicle displaying a copy of the report of sale may be
74 74 operated without license plates or registration card until either of
75 75 the following, whichever occurs first:
76 76 (1) The license plates and registration card are received by the
77 77 purchaser.
78   – (2) A six-month period, commencing with the date of sale of the
  78 + (2) A 90-day period, commencing with the date of sale of the
79 79 vehicle, has expired.
80   – (d) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2012, and, as
81   – of January 1, 2013, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that
82   – is enacted before January 1, 2013, deletes or extends the dates on
83   – which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
  80 + (d) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2012.
  Section 9, 10
  1 + SEC. 9. Section 4456.4 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
  2 + 4456.4. (a) A motor vehicle sold or leased by a new motor vehicle
  3 + dealer shall be registered by the dealer using electronic programs
  4 + provided by a qualified private industry partner pursuant to Section
  5 + 1685 if the department permits the transaction to be processed
  6 + electronically.
  7 + (b) This section does not apply to the sale or lease of a
  8 + motorcycle or off-highway motor vehicle subject to identification
  9 + under Section 38010 or a recreational vehicle as defined in Section
  10 + 18010 of the Health and Safety Code.
  11 + (c) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2012.
  12 + SEC. 10. Section 4456.5 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
  13 + 4456.5. (a) A dealer may charge the purchaser or lessee of a
  14 + vehicle the following charges:
  15 + (1) A document processing charge for the preparation and
  16 + processing of documents, disclosures, and titling, registration, and
  17 + information security obligations imposed by state and federal law.
  18 + The dealer document processing charge shall not be represented as a
  19 + governmental fee.
  20 + (A) If a dealer has a contractual agreement with the department to
  21 + be a private industry partner pursuant to Section 1685, the document
  22 + processing charge shall not exceed eighty dollars ($80).
  23 + (B) If a dealer does not have a contractual agreement with the
  24 + department to be a private industry partner pursuant to Section 1685,
  25 + the document processing charge shall not exceed sixty-five dollars
  26 + ($65).
  27 + (2) An electronic filing charge, not to exceed the actual amount
  28 + the dealer is charged by a first-line service provider for providing
  29 + license plate processing, postage, and the fees and services
  30 + authorized pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (d) of Section 1685. The
  31 + director may establish, through the adoption of regulations, the
  32 + maximum amount that a first-line service provider may charge a
  33 + dealer. The electronic filing charge shall not be represented as a
  34 + governmental fee.
  35 + (b) As used in this section, the term “first-line service provider”
  36 + shall have the same meaning as defined in subdivision (b) of Section
  37 + 1685.
  38 + (c) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2012.
  Section 11, 12
1   – SEC. 11. Section 5202 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
  1 + SEC. 12. Section 5202 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
2 2 5202. (a) A license plate issued by this state or any other
3   – jurisdiction within or without the United States shall remain
4   – attached during the period of its validity to the vehicle for which
5   – it is issued while being operated within this state or during the
6   – time the vehicle is being held for sale in this state, or until the
7   – time that a vehicle with special or identification plates is no
8   – longer entitled to those plates; and a person shall not operate, nor
9   – shall an owner knowingly permit to be operated, upon a highway a
10   – vehicle unless the license plate is so attached. Special permits
11   – issued in lieu of plates shall be attached and displayed on the
12   – vehicle for which issued during the period of their validity.
13   – (b) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2012, and, as
14   – of January 1, 2013, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that
15   – is enacted before January 1, 2013, deletes or extends the dates on
16   – which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
  3 + jurisdiction within or without the United States shall be attached
  4 + upon receipt and remain attached during the period of its validity to
  5 + the vehicle for which it is issued while being operated within this
  6 + state or during the time the vehicle is being held for sale in this
  7 + state, or until the time that a vehicle with special or
  8 + identification plates is no longer entitled to those plates; and a
  9 + person shall not operate, and an owner shall not knowingly permit to
  10 + be operated, upon any highway, a vehicle unless the license plate is
  11 + so attached. A special permit issued in lieu of plates shall be
  12 + attached and displayed on the vehicle for which the permit was issued
  13 + during the period of the permit’s validity.
  14 + (b) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2012.
  Section 13 and 14 (merged)
1   – SEC. 13. Section 11713.1 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
  1 + SEC. 14. Section 11713.1 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
2 2 11713.1. It is a violation of this code for the holder of a
3 3 dealer’s license issued under this article to do any of the
4 4 following:
5 5 (a) Advertise a specific vehicle for sale without identifying the
6 6 vehicle by its model, model-year, and either its license number or
7 7 that portion of the vehicle identification number that distinguishes
8 8 the vehicle from all other vehicles of the same make, model, and
9 9 model-year. Model-year is not required to be advertised for current
10 10 model-year vehicles. Year models are no longer current when ensuing
11 11 year models are available for purchase at retail in California. An
12 12 advertisement that offers for sale a class of new vehicles in a
13 13 dealer’s inventory, consisting of five or more vehicles, that are all
14 14 of the same make, model, and model-year is not required to include
15 15 in the advertisement the vehicle identification numbers or license
16 16 numbers of those vehicles.
17 17 (b) Advertise the total price of a vehicle without including all
18 18 costs to the purchaser at time of sale, except taxes, vehicle
19 19 registration fees, the California tire fee, as defined in Section
20   – 42885 of the Public Resources Code, emission testing fees not
  20 + 42885 of the Public Resources Code, emission testing charges not
21 21 exceeding fifty dollars ($50), actual fees charged for certificates
22 22 pursuant to Section 44060 of the Health and Safety Code, finance
23   – charges, and any dealer document preparation charge. The dealer
24   – document preparation charge shall not exceed fifty-five dollars
25   – ($55).
  23 + charges, and any dealer document processing charge or charge to
  24 + electronically register or transfer the vehicle.
26 25 (c) (1) Exclude from an advertisement of a vehicle for sale that
27 26 there will be added to the advertised total price at the time of
28 27 sale, charges for sales tax, vehicle registration fees, the
29 28 California tire fee, the fee charged by the state for the issuance of
30 29 a certificate of compliance or noncompliance pursuant to a statute,
31   – finance charges, and a dealer document preparation charge.
  30 + finance charges, a charge to electronically register or transfer the
  31 + vehicle, and a dealer document processing charge.
32 32 (2) The obligations imposed by paragraph (1) are satisfied by
33 33 adding to the advertisement a statement containing no abbreviations
34 34 and that is worded in substantially the following form: “Plus
35 35 government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document
36   – preparation charge, and any emission testing charge.”
  36 + processing charge, any electronic filing charge, and any emission
  37 + testing charge.”
37 38 (3) For purposes of paragraph (1), “advertisement” means an
38 39 advertisement in a newspaper, magazine, or direct mail publication
39 40 that is two or more columns in width or one column in width and more
40 41 than seven inches in length, or on a Web page of a dealer’s Internet
41 42 Web site that displays the price of a vehicle offered for sale on the
42 43 Internet, as that term is defined in paragraph (6) of subdivision
43 44 (f) of Section 17538 of the Business and Professions Code.
44   – (d) Represent the dealer document preparation charge or
45   – certificate of compliance or noncompliance fee, as a governmental
46   – fee.
  45 + (d) Represent the dealer document processing charge, electronic
  46 + registration or transfer charge, or emission testing charge, as a
  47 + governmental fee.
47 48 (e) Fail to sell a vehicle to a person at the advertised total
48 49 price, exclusive of taxes, vehicle registration fees, the California
49 50 tire fee, the fee charged by the state for the issuance of a
50 51 certificate of compliance or noncompliance pursuant to a statute,
51 52 finance charges, mobilehome escrow fees, the amount of a city,
52   – county, or city and county imposed fee or tax for a mobilehome, and a
53   – dealer document preparation charge, which charges shall not exceed
54   – fifty-five dollars ($55) for the document preparation charge and not
55   – to exceed fifty dollars ($50) for emission testing plus the actual
56   – fees charged for certificates pursuant to Section 44060 of the Health
57   – and Safety Code, while the vehicle remains unsold, unless the
58   – advertisement states the advertised total price is good only for a
59   – specified time and the time has elapsed. Advertised vehicles shall be
60   – sold at or below the advertised total price, with statutorily
61   – permitted exclusions, regardless of whether the purchaser has
62   – knowledge of the advertised total price.
  53 + county, or city and county imposed fee or tax for a mobilehome, a
  54 + dealer document processing charge, an electronic registration or
  55 + transfer charge, and a charge for emission testing not to exceed
  56 + fifty dollars ($50) plus the actual fees charged for certificates
  57 + pursuant to Section 44060 of the Health and Safety Code, while the
  58 + vehicle remains unsold, unless the advertisement states the
  59 + advertised total price is good only for a specified time and the time
  60 + has elapsed. Advertised vehicles shall be sold at or below the
  61 + advertised total price, with statutorily permitted exclusions,
  62 + regardless of whether the purchaser has knowledge of the advertised
  63 + total price.
63 64 (f) (1) Advertise for sale, sell, or purchase for resale a new
64 65 vehicle of a line-make for which the dealer does not hold a
65 66 franchise.
66 67 (2) This subdivision does not apply to a transaction involving the
67 68 following:
68 69 (A) A mobilehome.
69 70 (B) A recreational vehicle as defined in Section 18010 of the
70 71 Health and Safety Code.
71 72 (C) A commercial coach, as defined in Section 18001.8 of the
72 73 Health and Safety Code.
73 74 (D) An off-highway motor vehicle subject to identification as
74 75 defined in Section 38012.
75 76 (E) A manufactured home.
76 77 (F) A new vehicle that will be substantially altered or modified
77 78 by a converter prior to resale.
78 79 (G) A commercial vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of
79 80 more than 10,000 pounds.
80 81 (H) A vehicle purchased for export and exported outside the
81 82 territorial limits of the United States without being registered with
82 83 the department.
83 84 (I) A vehicle acquired in the ordinary course of business as a new
84 85 vehicle by a dealer franchised to sell that vehicle, if all of the
85 86 following apply:
86 87 (i) The manufacturer or distributor of the vehicle files a
87 88 bankruptcy petition.
88 89 (ii) The franchise agreement of the dealer is terminated,
89 90 canceled, or rejected by the manufacturer or distributor as part of
90 91 the bankruptcy proceedings and the termination, cancellation, or
91 92 rejection is not a result of the revocation by the department of the
92 93 dealer’s license or the dealer’s conviction of a crime.
93 94 (iii) The vehicle is held in the inventory of the dealer on the
94 95 date the bankruptcy petition is filed.
95 96 (iv) The vehicle is sold by the dealer within six months of the
96 97 date the bankruptcy petition is filed.
97 98 (3) Subparagraph (I) of paragraph (2) does not entitle a dealer
98 99 whose franchise agreement has been terminated, canceled, or rejected
99 100 to continue to perform warranty service repairs or continue to be
100 101 eligible to offer or receive consumer or dealer incentives offered by
101 102 the manufacturer or distributor.
102 103 (g) Sell a park trailer, as specified in Section 18009.3 of the
103 104 Health and Safety Code, without disclosing in writing to the
104 105 purchaser that a park trailer is required to be moved by a
105 106 transporter or a licensed manufacturer or dealer under a permit
106 107 issued by the Department of Transportation or a local authority with
107 108 respect to highways under their respective jurisdictions.
108 109 (h) Advertise free merchandise, gifts, or services provided by a
109 110 dealer contingent on the purchase of a vehicle. “Free” includes
110 111 merchandise or services offered for sale at a price less than the
111 112 seller’s cost of the merchandise or services.
112   – (i) (1) Advertise vehicles, and related goods or services, at a
  113 + (i) (1) Advertise vehicles, and related goods or services, at a
113 114 specified dealer price, with the intent not to supply reasonably
114 115 expectable demand, unless the advertisement discloses the number of
115 116 vehicles in stock at the advertised price. In addition, whether or
116 117 not there are sufficient vehicles in stock to supply a reasonably
117 118 expectable demand, when phrases such as “starting at,” “from,”
118 119 “beginning as low as,” or words of similar import are used in
119 120 reference to an advertised price, the advertisement shall disclose
120 121 the number of vehicles available at that advertised price.
121 122 (2) For purposes of this subdivision, in a newspaper advertisement
122 123 for a vehicle that is two model-years old or newer, the actual
123 124 phrase that states the number of vehicles in stock at the advertised
124 125 price shall be printed in a type size that is at least equal to
125 126 one-quarter of the type size, and in the same style and color of
126 127 type, used for the advertised price. However, in no case shall the
127 128 phrase be printed in less than 8-point type size, and the phrase
128 129 shall be disclosed immediately above, below, or beside the advertised
129 130 price without intervening words, pictures, marks, or symbols.
130 131 (3) The disclosure required by this subdivision is in addition to
131 132 any other disclosure required by this code or any regulation
132 133 regarding identifying vehicles advertised for sale.
133 134 (j) Use “rebate” or similar words, including, but not limited to,
134 135 “cash back,” in advertising the sale of a vehicle unless the rebate
135 136 is expressed in a specific dollar amount and is in fact a rebate
136 137 offered by the vehicle manufacturer or distributor directly to the
137 138 retail purchaser of the vehicle or to the assignee of the retail
138 139 purchaser.
139 140 (k) Require a person to pay a higher price for a vehicle and
140 141 related goods or services for receiving advertised credit terms than
141 142 the cash price the same person would have to pay to purchase the same
142 143 vehicle and related goods or services. For the purpose of this
143 144 subdivision, “cash price” has the meaning as defined in subdivision
144 145 (e) of Section 2981 of the Civil Code.
145   – ( l ) Advertise a guaranteed trade-in allowance.
  146 + (l) Advertise a guaranteed trade-in allowance.
146 147 (m) Misrepresent the authority of a salesperson, representative,
147 148 or agent to negotiate the final terms of a transaction.
148 149 (n) (1) Use “invoice,” “dealer’s invoice,” “wholesale price,” or
149 150 similar terms that refer to a dealer’s cost for a vehicle in an
150 151 advertisement for the sale of a vehicle or advertise that the selling
151 152 price of a vehicle is above, below, or at either of the following:
152 153 (A) The manufacturer’s or distributor’s invoice price to a dealer.
153 154  
154 155 (B) A dealer’s cost.
155 156 (2) This subdivision does not apply to either of the following:
156 157 (A) A communication occurring during face-to-face negotiations for
157 158 the purchase of a specific vehicle if the prospective purchaser
158 159 initiates a discussion of the vehicle’s invoice price or the dealer’s
159 160 cost for that vehicle.
160 161 (B) A communication between a dealer and a prospective commercial
161 162 purchaser that is not disseminated to the general public. For
162 163 purposes of this subparagraph, a “commercial purchaser” means a
163 164 dealer, lessor, lessor-retailer, manufacturer, remanufacturer,
164 165 distributor, financial institution, governmental entity, or person
165 166 who purchases 10 or more vehicles during a year.
166 167 (o) Violate a law prohibiting bait and switch advertising,
167 168 including, but not limited to, the guides against bait advertising
168 169 set forth in Part 238 (commencing with Section 238) of Title 16 of
169 170 the Code of Federal Regulations, as those regulations read on January
170 171 1, 1988.
171 172 (p) Make an untrue or misleading statement indicating that a
172 173 vehicle is equipped with all the factory-installed optional equipment
173 174 the manufacturer offers, including, but not limited to, a false
174 175 statement that a vehicle is “fully factory equipped.”
175 176 (q) Affix on a new vehicle a supplemental price sticker containing
176 177 a price that represents the dealer’s asking price that exceeds the
177 178 manufacturer’s suggested retail price unless all of the following
178 179 occur:
179 180 (1) The supplemental sticker clearly and conspicuously discloses
180 181 in the largest print appearing on the sticker, other than the print
181 182 size used for the dealer’s name, that the supplemental sticker price
182 183 is the dealer’s asking price, or words of similar import, and that it
183 184 is not the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.
184 185 (2) The supplemental sticker clearly and conspicuously discloses
185 186 the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.
186 187 (3) The supplemental sticker lists each item that is not included
187 188 in the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, and discloses the
188 189 additional price of each item. If the supplemental sticker price is
189 190 greater than the sum of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price and
190 191 the price of the items added by the dealer, the supplemental sticker
191 192 price shall set forth that difference and describe it as “added
192 193 mark-up.”
193 194 (r) Advertise an underselling claim, including, but not limited
194 195 to, “we have the lowest prices” or “we will beat any dealer’s price,”
195 196 unless the dealer has conducted a recent survey showing that the
196 197 dealer sells its vehicles at lower prices than another licensee in
197 198 its trade area and maintains records to adequately substantiate the
198 199 claims. The substantiating records shall be made available to the
199 200 department upon request.
200 201 (s) (1) Advertise an incentive offered by the manufacturer or
201 202 distributor if the dealer is required to contribute to the cost of
202 203 the incentive as a condition of participating in the incentive
203 204 program, unless the dealer discloses in a clear and conspicuous
204 205 manner that dealer participation may affect consumer cost.
205 206 (2) For purposes of this subdivision, “incentive” means anything
206 207 of value offered to induce people to purchase a vehicle, including,
207 208 but not limited to, discounts, savings claims, rebates, below-market
208 209 finance rates, and free merchandise or services.
209 210 (t) Display or offer for sale a used vehicle unless there is
210 211 affixed to the vehicle the Federal Trade Commission’s Buyer’s Guide
211 212 as required by Part 455 of Title 16 of the Code of Federal
212 213 Regulations.
213 214 (u) Fail to disclose in writing to the franchisor of a new motor
214 215 vehicle dealer the name of the purchaser, date of sale, and the
215 216 vehicle identification number of each new motor vehicle sold of the
216 217 line-make of that franchisor, or intentionally submit to that
217 218 franchisor a false name for the purchaser or false date for the date
218 219 of sale.
219 220 (v) Enter into a contract for the retail sale of a motor vehicle
220 221 unless the contract clearly and conspicuously discloses whether the
221 222 vehicle is being sold as a new vehicle or a used vehicle, as defined
222 223 in this code.
223 224 (w) Use a simulated check, as defined in subdivision (a) of
224 225 Section 22433 of the Business and Professions Code, in an
225 226 advertisement for the sale or lease of a vehicle.
226 227 (x) Fail to disclose, in a clear and conspicuous manner in at
227 228 least 10-point boldface type on the face of a contract for the retail
228 229 sale of a new motor vehicle that this transaction is, or is not,
229 230 subject to a fee received by an autobroker from the selling new motor
230 231 vehicle dealer, and the name of the autobroker, if applicable.
231   – (y) As used in this section, “make” and “model” have the same
  232 + (y) Sell or lease a new motor vehicle after October 1, 2012,
  233 + unless the dealer has a contractual agreement with the department to
  234 + be a private industry partner pursuant to Section 1685. This
  235 + subdivision does not apply to the sale or lease of a motorcycle or
  236 + off-highway motor vehicle subject to identification under Section
  237 + 38010 or a recreational vehicle as defined in Section 18010 of the
  238 + Health and Safety Code.
  239 + (z) As used in this section, “make” and “model” have the same
232 240 meaning as is provided in Section 565.3 of Title 49 of the Code of
233 241 Federal Regulations.
234   – (z) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2012, and, as
235   – of January 1, 2013, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that
236   – is enacted before January 1, 2013, deletes or extends the dates on
237   – which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
  242 + (aa) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2012.
  Section 15, 16
1   – SEC. 15. Section 11713.21 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
  1 + SEC. 16. Section 11713.21 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
2 2 11713.21. (a) (1) A dealer shall not sell a used vehicle, as
3 3 defined in Section 665 and subject to registration under this code,
4 4 at retail to an individual for personal, family, or household use
5 5 without offering the buyer a contract cancellation option agreement
6 6 that allows the buyer to return the vehicle without cause. This
7 7 section does not apply to a used vehicle having a purchase price of
8 8 forty thousand dollars ($40,000) or more, a motorcycle, as defined in
9 9 Section 400, or a recreational vehicle, as defined in Section 18010
10 10 of the Health and Safety Code.
11 11 (2) The purchase price for the contract cancellation option shall
12 12 not exceed the following:
13 13 (A) Seventy-five dollars ($75) for a vehicle with a cash price of
14 14 five thousand dollars ($5,000) or less.
15 15 (B) One hundred fifty dollars ($150) for a vehicle with a cash
16 16 price of more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), but not more than
17 17 ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
18 18 (C) Two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for a vehicle with a cash
19 19 price of more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), but not more than
20 20 thirty thousand dollars ($30,000).
21 21 (D) One percent of the purchase price for a vehicle with a cash
22 22 price of more than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000), but less than
23 23 forty thousand dollars ($40,000).
24 24 The term “cash price” as used in this paragraph has the same
25 25 meaning as described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of
26 26 subdivision (a) of Section 2982 of the Civil Code. “Cash price” also
27   – excludes registration, transfer, titling, license, and California
28   – tire and optional business partnership automation fees.
  27 + excludes registration, transfer, titling, and license fees, the
  28 + California tire fee, and any charge to electronically register or
  29 + transfer the vehicle.
29 30 (b) To comply with subdivision (a), and notwithstanding Section
30 31 2981.9 of the Civil Code, a contract cancellation option agreement
31 32 shall be contained in a document separate from the conditional sales
32 33 contract or other vehicle purchase agreement and shall contain, at a
33 34 minimum, the following:
34 35 (1) The name of the seller and the buyer.
35 36 (2) A description and the Vehicle Identification Number of the
36 37 vehicle purchased.
37 38 (3) A statement specifying the time within which the buyer must
38 39 exercise the right to cancel the purchase under the contract
39 40 cancellation option and return the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer
40 41 shall not specify a time that is earlier than the dealer’s close of
41 42 business on the second day following the day on which the vehicle was
42 43 originally delivered to the buyer by the dealer.
43 44 (4) A statement that clearly and conspicuously specifies the
44 45 dollar amount of any restocking fee the buyer must pay to the dealer
45 46 to exercise the right to cancel the purchase under the contract
46 47 cancellation option. The restocking fee shall not exceed one hundred
47 48 seventy-five dollars ($175) if the vehicle’s cash price is five
48 49 thousand dollars ($5,000) or less, three hundred fifty dollars ($350)
49 50 if the vehicle’s cash price is less than ten thousand dollars
50 51 ($10,000), and five hundred dollars ($500) if the vehicle cash price
51 52 is ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more. The dealer shall apply
52 53 toward the restocking fee the price paid by the buyer for the
53 54 contract cancellation option. The price for the purchase of the
54 55 contract cancellation option is not otherwise subject to setoff or
55 56 refund.
56 57 (5) Notwithstanding paragraph (4), when a buyer, who leased the
57 58 purchased vehicle immediately preceding the dealer’s sale of the
58 59 vehicle to the buyer, exercises the contract cancellation option, the
59 60 limit on the amount of a restocking fee required to be paid by the
60 61 buyer shall be increased. That increased amount shall be the amount
61 62 the buyer would have been obligated to pay the lessor, at the time of
62 63 the termination of the lease, for the following charges, as
63 64 specified in the lease, and as if the buyer had not purchased the
64 65 contract cancellation option:
65 66 (A) Excess mileage.
66 67 (B) Unrepaired damage.
67 68 (C) Excess wear and tear.
68 69 (6) A statement specifying the maximum number of miles that the
69 70 vehicle may be driven after its original delivery by the dealer to
70 71 the buyer to remain eligible for cancellation under the contract
71 72 cancellation option. A dealer shall not specify fewer than 250 miles
72 73 in the contract cancellation option agreement.
73 74 (7) A statement that the contract cancellation option gives the
74 75 buyer the right to cancel the purchase and obtain a full refund,
75 76 minus the purchase price for the contract cancellation option
76 77 agreement; and that the right to cancel will apply only if, within
77 78 the time specified in the contract cancellation option agreement, the
78 79 following are personally delivered to the selling dealer by the
79 80 buyer: a written notice exercising the right to cancel the purchase
80 81 signed by the buyer; any restocking fee specified in the contract
81 82 cancellation option agreement minus the purchase price for the
82 83 contract cancellation option agreement; the original contract
83 84 cancellation option agreement and vehicle purchase contract and
84 85 related documents, if the seller gave those original documents to the
85 86 buyer; all original vehicle titling and registration documents, if
86 87 the seller gave those original documents to the buyer; and the
87 88 vehicle, free of all liens and encumbrances, other than any lien or
88 89 encumbrance created by or incidental to the conditional sales
89 90 contract, any loan arranged by the dealer, or any purchase money loan
90 91 obtained by the buyer from a third party, and in the same condition
91 92 as when it was delivered by the dealer to the buyer, reasonable wear
92 93 and tear and any defect or mechanical problem that manifests or
93 94 becomes evident after delivery that was not caused by the buyer
94 95 excepted, and which must not have been driven beyond the mileage
95 96 limit specified in the contract cancellation option agreement. The
96 97 agreement may also provide that the buyer will execute documents
97 98 reasonably necessary to effectuate the cancellation and refund and as
98 99 reasonably required to comply with applicable law.
99 100 (8) At the bottom of the contract cancellation option agreement, a
100 101 statement that may be signed by the buyer to indicate the buyer’s
101 102 election to exercise the right to cancel the purchase under the terms
102 103 of the contract cancellation option agreement, and the last date and
103 104 time by which the option to cancel may be exercised, followed by a
104 105 line for the buyer’s signature. A particular form of statement is not
105 106 required, but the following statement is sufficient: “By signing
106 107 below, I elect to exercise my right to cancel the purchase of the
107 108 vehicle described in this agreement.” The buyer’s delivery of the
108 109 purchase cancellation agreement to the dealer with the buyer’s
109 110 signature following this statement shall constitute sufficient
110   – written notice exercising the right to cancel the purchase under
111   – paragraph (6). The dealer shall provide the buyer with the statement
  111 + written notice exercising the right to cancel the purchase pursuant
  112 + to paragraph (6). The dealer shall provide the buyer with the statement
112 113 required by this paragraph in duplicate to enable the buyer to return
113 114 the signed cancellation notice and retain a copy of the cancellation
114 115 agreement.
115 116 (9) If, pursuant to paragraph (5), the limit on the restocking fee
116 117 is increased by the amount the buyer, who exercises a contract
117 118 cancellation option would have been obligated to pay the lessor, upon
118 119 termination of the lease, for charges for excess mileage, unrepaired
119 120 damage, or excess wear and tear, as specified in the lease, the
120 121 dealer shall provide the buyer with a notice of the contents of
121 122 paragraph (5), including a statement regarding the increased
122 123 restocking fee.
123 124 (c) (1) No later than the second day following the day on which
124 125 the buyer exercises the right to cancel the purchase in compliance
125 126 with the contract cancellation option agreement, the dealer shall
126 127 cancel the contract and provide the buyer with a full refund,
127 128 including that portion of the sales tax attributable to amounts
128 129 excluded pursuant to Section 6012.3 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
129 130  
130 131 (2) If the buyer was not charged for the contract cancellation
131 132 option agreement, the dealer shall return to the buyer, no later than
132 133 the day following the day on which the buyer exercises the right to
133 134 cancel the purchase, any motor vehicle the buyer left with the seller
134 135 as a downpayment or trade-in. If the dealer has sold or otherwise
135 136 transferred title to the motor vehicle that was left as a downpayment
136 137 or trade-in, the full refund described in paragraph (1) shall
137 138 include the fair market value of the motor vehicle left as a
138 139 downpayment or trade-in, or its value as stated in the contract or
139 140 purchase order, whichever is greater.
140 141 (3) If the buyer was charged for the contract cancellation option
141 142 agreement, the dealer shall retain any motor vehicle the buyer left
142 143 with the dealer as a downpayment or trade-in until the buyer
143 144 exercises the right to cancel or the right to cancel expires. If the
144 145 buyer exercises the right to cancel the purchase, the dealer shall
145 146 return to the buyer, no later than the day following the day on which
146 147 the buyer exercises the right to cancel the purchase, any motor
147 148 vehicle the buyer left with the seller as a downpayment or trade-in.
148 149 If the dealer has inadvertently sold or otherwise transferred title
149 150 to the motor vehicle as the result of a bona fide error,
150 151 notwithstanding reasonable procedures designed to avoid that error,
151 152 the inadvertent sale or transfer of title shall not be deemed a
152 153 violation of this paragraph, and the full refund described in
153 154 paragraph (1) shall include the retail market value of the motor
154 155 vehicle left as a downpayment or trade-in, or its value as stated in
155 156 the contract or purchase order, whichever is greater.
156 157 (d) If the dealer received a portion of the purchase price by
157 158 credit card, or other third-party payer on the buyer’s account, the
158 159 dealer may refund that portion of the purchase price to the credit
159 160 card issuer or third-party payer for credit to the buyer’s account.
160 161 (e) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a dealer is not required to
161 162 offer a contract cancellation option agreement to an individual who
162 163 exercised his or her right to cancel the purchase of a vehicle from
163 164 the dealer pursuant to a contract cancellation option agreement
164 165 during the immediately preceding 30 days. A dealer is not required to
165 166 give notice to a subsequent buyer of the return of a vehicle
166 167 pursuant to this section. This subdivision does not abrogate or limit
167 168 any disclosure obligation imposed by any other law.
168 169 (f) This section does not affect or alter the legal rights,
169 170 duties, obligations, or liabilities of the buyer, the dealer, or the
170 171 dealer’s agents or assigns, that would exist in the absence of a
171 172 contract cancellation option agreement. The buyer is the owner of a
172 173 vehicle when he or she takes delivery of a vehicle until the vehicle
173 174 is returned to the dealer pursuant to a contract cancellation option
174 175 agreement, and the existence of a contract cancellation option
175 176 agreement shall not impose permissive user liability on the dealer,
176 177 or the dealer’s agents or assigns, under Section 460 or 17150 or
177 178 otherwise.
178 179 (g) This section does not affect the ability of a buyer to rescind
179 180 the contract or revoke acceptance under any other law.
180   – (h) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2012, and, as
181   – of January 1, 2013, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that
182   – is enacted before January 1, 2013, deletes or extends the dates on
183   – which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
  181 + (h) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2012.
  Section 17, 18  
  1 + SEC. 17. Section 11713.26 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
  2 + 11713.26. (a) A dealer shall not display or offer for sale at
  3 + retail a used vehicle, as defined in Section 665 and subject to
  4 + registration under this code, unless the dealer first obtains a
  5 + NMVTIS vehicle history report from a NMVTIS data provider for the
  6 + vehicle identification number of the vehicle.
  7 + (b) If a NMVTIS vehicle history report for a used vehicle
  8 + indicates that the vehicle is or has been a junk automobile or a
  9 + salvage automobile or the vehicle has been reported as a junk
  10 + automobile or a salvage automobile by a junk yard, salvage yard, or
  11 + insurance carrier pursuant to Section 30504 of Title 49 of the United
  12 + States Code, or the certificate of title contains a brand, a dealer
  13 + shall do both of the following:
  14 + (1) Post the following disclosure on the vehicle while it is
  15 + displayed for sale at retail in at least 14-point bold black type,
  16 + except for the title “Warning” which shall be in at least 18-point
  17 + bold black type, on at least a 4 x 5.5 inch red background in close
  18 + proximity to the Federal Trade Commission’s Buyer’s Guide:
  19 +
  20 +
  21 + “WARNING
  22 +
  23 + According to a vehicle history report issued by the National Motor
  24 + Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS), this vehicle has been
  25 + reported as a total-loss vehicle by an insurance company, has been
  26 + reported into NMVTIS by a junk or salvage reporting entity, or has a
  27 + title brand which may materially affect the value, safety, and/or
  28 + condition of the vehicle. Because of its history as a junk, salvage,
  29 + or title-branded vehicle, the manufacturer’s warranty or service
  30 + contract on this vehicle may be affected. Ask the dealer to see a
  31 + copy of the NMVTIS vehicle history report. You may independently
  32 + obtain the report by checking NMVTIS online at
  33 + www.vehiclehistory.gov.”
1 34  
  35 + (2) Provide the retail purchaser with a copy of the NMVTIS vehicle
  36 + history report upon request prior to sale.
  37 + (c) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to a used vehicle for
  38 + which NMVTIS does not have a record if the dealer attempts to obtain
  39 + a NMVTIS vehicle history report for the vehicle.
  40 + (d) As used in this section the following terms have the following
  41 + meanings:
  42 + (1) “NMVTIS” means the National Motor Vehicle Title Information
  43 + System established pursuant to Section 30501 et seq. of Title 49 of
  44 + the United States Code.
  45 + (2) “NMVTIS vehicle history report” means a report obtained by an
  46 + NMVTIS data provider that contains:
  47 + (A) The date of the report.
  48 + (B) Any disclaimer required by the operator of NMVTIS.
  49 + (C) If available from NMVTIS, information establishing the
  50 + following:
  51 + (i) Whether the vehicle is titled in a particular state.
  52 + (ii) Whether the title to the vehicle was branded by a state.
  53 + (iii) The validity and status of a document purporting to be a
  54 + certificate of title for the vehicle.
  55 + (iv) Whether the vehicle is or has been a junk automobile or a
  56 + salvage automobile.
  57 + (v) The odometer mileage disclosure required pursuant to Section
  58 + 32705 of Title 49 of the United States Code for that vehicle on the
  59 + date the certificate of title for that vehicle was issued and any
  60 + later mileage information.
  61 + (vi) Whether the vehicle has been reported as a junk automobile or
  62 + a salvage automobile pursuant to Section 30504 of Title 49 of the
  63 + United States Code.
  64 + (3) “Junk automobile,” “operator,” and “salvage automobile” shall
  65 + have the same meanings as defined in Section 25.52 of Title 28 of the
  66 + Code of Federal Regulations.
  67 + (4) “NMVTIS data provider” means a person authorized by the NMVTIS
  68 + operator as an access portal provider for NMVTIS.
  69 + (5) “NMVTIS operator” means the individual or entity authorized or
  70 + designated as the operator of NMVTIS pursuant to subdivision (b) of
  71 + Section 30502 of Title 49 of the United States Code, or the office
  72 + designated by the United States Attorney General, if there is no
  73 + authorized or designated individual or entity.
  74 + (e) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a NMVTIS data provider
  75 + from including, in a NMVTIS vehicle history report containing the
  76 + information required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (d), additional
  77 + vehicle history information obtained from resources other than
  78 + NMVTIS.
  79 + (f) This section shall not create any legal duty upon the dealer
  80 + related to the accuracy, errors, or omissions contained in a NMVTIS
  81 + vehicle history report that is obtained from a NMVTIS data provider
  82 + or any legal duty to provide information added to NMVTIS after the
  83 + dealer obtained the NMVTIS vehicle history report pursuant to
  84 + subdivision (a).
  85 + (g) (1) In the event that all NMVTIS data providers cease to make
  86 + NMVTIS vehicle history reports available to the public, this section
  87 + shall become inoperative.
  88 + (2) In the event that all NMVTIS data providers cease to make
  89 + NMVTIS vehicle history reports available to the public, it is the
  90 + intent of the Legislature that the United States Department of
  91 + Justice notify the Legislature and the department.
  92 + (h) This section does not apply to the sale of a recreational
  93 + vehicle, a motorcycle, or an off-highway motor vehicle subject to
  94 + identification under Section 38010.
  95 + (i) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2012.
  96 + SEC. 18. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
  97 + Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
  98 + the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
  99 + district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
  100 + infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
  101 + for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
  102 + Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
  103 + meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
  104 + Constitution.