Bill Text: CA SB486 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Senate Bill 486 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Driver’s licenses: renewal.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2021-09-23 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 62(a). [SB486 Detail]

Download: California-2021-SB486-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 486

Introduced by Senator Melendez

February 17, 2021

An act to amend Sections 12814.5 and 12816 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 486, as introduced, Melendez. Driver’s licenses: renewal.

Existing law provides that the expiration date for an original driver’s license or a driver’s license renewal is the 5th birthday of the applicant following the date of the application for the license. Existing law authorizes a program for renewal of driver’s licenses by mail. Existing law prohibits renewal of a driver’s license by mail if the licensee is 70 years of age or older, and prohibits renewal of a driver’s license by mail more than 2 consecutive times.

This bill would provide that, for an applicant who is at least 25 years of age, but under 70 years of age, at the time of the application for an original driver’s license, or at the time of expiration of an original driver’s license or a renewed license, the original driver’s license or a driver’s license renewal will expire on the 8th birthday of the applicant following the date of the application for the license. The bill would prohibit renewal of a driver’s license by mail 2 consecutive times. The bill would make other, conforming changes.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 12814.5 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

12814.5.

(a) The director may establish a program to evaluate the traffic safety and other effects of renewing driver’s licenses by mail. Pursuant to that program, the department may renew by mail driver’s licenses for licensees not holding a probationary license, and whose records, for the two years immediately preceding the determination of eligibility for the renewal, show no notification of a violation of subdivision (a) of Section 40509, a total violation point count not greater than one as determined in accordance with Section 12810, no suspension of the driving privilege pursuant to Section 13353.2, and no refusal to submit to or complete chemical testing pursuant to Section 13353 or 13353.1.

(b) The director may terminate the renewal by mail program authorized by this section at any time the department determines that the program has an adverse impact on traffic safety.

(d) The department shall notify each licensee granted a renewal by mail pursuant to this section of major changes to the Vehicle Code affecting traffic laws occurring during the prior five-year ~~period.~~ or eight-year period, as determined by the length of the licensee’s last renewal period under Section 12816.

(e) The department shall not renew a driver’s license by mail ~~if the license has been previously renewed by mail~~ two consecutive ~~times for five-year periods.~~ times.

SEC. 2.

Section 12816 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

12816.

(a) Except as otherwise specified in subdivision (b), all of the following shall apply to the renewal of a driver’s license:

~~(a)Every~~

(1) An original driver’s license expires on the fifth birthday of the applicant following the date of the application for the license.

~~(b)~~

(2) Renewal of a driver’s license shall be ~~made~~ for a term ~~which~~ that expires on the fifth birthday of the applicant following the expiration of the ~~license renewed, if~~ renewed license. The application and fee for a renewal is license shall be made within six months prior to the expiration of the license to be renewed, or within 90 days after expiration of ~~the~~ that license. If the application for a renewal license is not ~~applied for~~ made within 90 days after expiration of the license, the application and fee ~~is considered the same as an application~~ shall be for an original license.

~~(c)~~

(3) The department may accept an application for a renewal of a driver’s license made more than six months prior to the date of expiration. The renewal shall be ~~made~~ for a term ~~which~~ that expires on the fifth birthday of the applicant following the date of the application for the renewal license.

~~(d)~~

(4) The department may accept an application for a license of a different class made more than six months before the expiration of the license previously issued, if the previously issued license is surrendered for cancellation in accordance with Section 13100. The driver’s license issued from that application expires on the fifth birthday of the applicant following the date of the application.

(b) For an applicant who is at least 25 years of age, but under 70 years of age, at the time of the application for an original driver’s license, or expiration of an original driver’s license or a renewed license, as applicable, all of the following shall apply to the issuance of a driver’s license:
(1) An original driver’s license expires on the eighth birthday of the applicant following the date of the application for the license.
(2) Renewal of a driver’s license shall be for a term that expires on the eighth birthday of the applicant following the expiration of the renewed license. The application and fee shall be made within six months prior to the expiration of the license to be renewed, or within 90 days after expiration of that license. If the application for a renewal license is not made within 90 days after expiration of the license, the application and fee shall be for an original license.
(3) The department may accept an application for a renewal of a driver’s license made more than six months prior to the date of expiration. The renewal shall be for a term that expires on the eighth birthday of the applicant following the date of the application for the renewal license.
(4) The department may accept an application for a license of a different class made more than six months before the expiration of the license previously issued, if the previously issued license is surrendered for cancellation in accordance with Section 13100. The driver’s license issued from that application expires on the eighth birthday of the applicant following the date of the application.
~~(e)~~

(c) Notwithstanding subdivisions ~~(a), (b), (c),~~ (a) and ~~(d),~~ (b), the department may adjust the expiration date for any driver’s license issued pursuant to this code.