BILL NUMBER: AB 647	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 22, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Yamada

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2009

   An act to amend Section 4465 of the Vehicle Code, relating to
vehicles.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 647, as amended, Yamada. Vehicles: registration and title
information.
   Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to furnish
the legal owner of record of a vehicle, upon his or her request,
information regarding the current registration status of the vehicle,
including the license plate number and address of the registered
owner of the vehicle. Existing law also authorizes the department to
charge a fee to pay  for  the cost of furnishing this
information.
   Existing federal law establishes the National Motor Vehicle Title
Information System  (NMVTIS)  program in the United States
Department of Justice to provide an electronic means to verify and
exchange titling, brand, and theft data among motor vehicle
administrators, law enforcement officials, prospective purchasers,
and insurance carriers in participating states.
   This bill would  require the Director of Motor Vehicles to
make the federal National Motor Vehicle Title Information System
available to a prospective purchaser of a vehicle for the sole
purpose of obtaining titling, brand, and theft data, if any, of that
vehicle. The bill would require the department to adopt rules and
regulations consistent with the requirements for making records
available to the public and would authorize the department to charge
a fee to pay for the cost of furnishing this information 
 state the intent of the Legislature that the Department of Motor
Vehicles fully comply with the federal Anti Car Theft Act of 1992.
The bill would state the further intent of the Legislature that on
and after May 10, 2010, a contract entered into by the  
department to provide information from the NMVTIS would include
consumer access in full compliance with the act  .
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  yes
  no  . State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 4465 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
   4465.  (a) A legal owner of record of a vehicle may request, and
the department shall furnish, information regarding the current
registration status of the vehicle, including the license plate
number and address of the registered owner of the vehicle. The
department may charge a fee to pay for the cost of furnishing this
information. 
   (b) The director shall make the federal National Motor Vehicle
Title Information System (NMVTIS) available to a prospective
purchaser of a vehicle for the sole purpose of obtaining titling,
brand, and theft data, if any, of that vehicle. The department shall
adopt rules and regulations consistent with Section 1808 and may
charge a fee to pay for the cost of furnishing this information.
 
   (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department fully
comply with the federal Anti Car Theft Act of 1992 (Public Law
102-519). It is the further intent of the Legislature that on and
after May 10, 2010, a contract entered into by the department to
provide information from the National Motor Vehicle Title Information
System would include consumer access in full compliance with the
Anti Car Theft Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-519).