BILL NUMBER: SB 1173	CHAPTERED  07/23/01

	CHAPTER  94
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 23, 2001
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JULY 20, 2001
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JULY 2, 2001
	PASSED THE SENATE  MAY 7, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Johannessen

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2001

   An act to amend Section 4161 of the Vehicle Code, relating to
vehicles.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1173, Johannessen.  Vehicles:  engine replacement.
   Under existing law, whenever a motor vehicle engine or motor is
installed in a motor vehicle that is identified on the ownership and
registration certificates by motor or engine number or by both the
motor and frame numbers, the owner of the motor vehicle is required
to give notice to the Department of Motor Vehicles containing a
description of the motor vehicle engine or motor installed, including
any identifying number and the date of installation.  Existing law
prohibits the Department of Motor Vehicles from registering a case
for any motorcycle of the push-rod type with nonjournal rods and
4-stroke engines, manufactured in the United States, without proof of
the destruction of the case being replaced.
   This bill would delete the provision prohibiting the Department of
Motor Vehicles from registering a case for any motorcycle of the
push-rod type with nonjournal rods and 4-stroke engines, manufactured
in the United States, without proof of the destruction of the case
being replaced.  The bill would instead require the Department of the
California Highway Patrol, whenever an application is made to
register a replacement engine case for any motorcycle, to inspect the
motorcycle to determine its proper identity.  If the Department of
the California Highway Patrol determines that the replacement engine
case bears the same identifying numbers as the engine case being
replaced, the bill would require the original engine case to be
destroyed.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 4161 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
   4161.  (a) Whenever a motor vehicle engine or motor is installed,
except temporarily, in a motor vehicle which is identified on the
ownership and registration certificates by motor or engine number or
by both the motor and frame numbers and subject to registration under
this code, the owner of the motor vehicle shall, within 10 days
thereafter, give notice to the department upon a form furnished by it
containing a description of the motor vehicle engine or motor
installed, including any identifying number thereon and the date of
the installation.  The owner of the motor vehicle shall also submit
to the department with the notice the certificate of ownership and
registration card covering the motor vehicle in which the motor
vehicle engine or motor is installed and evidence of ownership
covering the new or used motor vehicle engine or motor installed and
such other documents as may be required by the department.
   (b) Upon receipt of motor vehicle engine or motor change
notification and other required documents, the department shall
assign a distinguishing vehicle identification number to motor
vehicles, other than motorcycles or motor-driven cycles registered
under a motor number or motor and frame numbers.  When the
distinguishing vehicle identification number is placed on the vehicle
as authorized, the vehicle shall thereafter be identified by the
distinguishing identification number assigned.
   (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or any
other provision of law, whenever an application is made to the
department to register a replacement engine case for any motorcycle,
the department shall request the Department of the California Highway
Patrol to inspect the motorcycle to determine its proper identity.
If the replacement engine case bears the same identifying numbers as
the engine case being replaced, the original engine case shall be
destroyed.  A determination verifying proof of destruction shall be
made by the Department of the California Highway Patrol.