BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2471
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 5, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 2471 (John A. Perez) - As Amended: April 27, 2010
Policy Committee: Banking and
Finance Vote: 13-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill alters current law prohibitions against, and penalties
for, the sell or manufacture of false DMV drivers' licenses or
identification (ID) cards. Specifically, the bill:
1)Provides that, in addition to prohibiting the sell or
manufacture of a document that is similar in size and form to
DMV licenses and ID cards, it is also unlawful to sell
documents that purport to confer the same privileges as IDs or
drivers' licenses.
2)Provides that, instead of the current penalties of a $1,000
fine and 24 hours of community service for violations, the
penalties may include a fine of between $250 and $1,000 and 24
hours of community service, or at the courts discretion, a
jail term of up to one year and a fine of up to $1,000.
FISCAL EFFECT
Negligible state costs. Local enforcement costs not
reimbursable .
COMMENTS
1)Background . Existing law prohibits persons from possessing any
canceled, fictitious, or fraudulently obtained driver's
license or ID card. It also prohibits the manufacture or sale
a document of a size and form substantially similar to the
driver's licenses or ID cards issued by DMV. However it does
not specifically prohibit manufacturing or selling documents
purporting to confer the same privileges as official drivers'
AB 2471
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licenses or ID cards.
2)Rationale. The bill is intended to deal with the illicit
practice of selling false identification documents. According
to the author, while existing law already prohibits the sale
or manufacture of counterfeit driver's license and IDs, there
are other documents offered for sale - often to unknowing
recent immigrants - that purport to grant the driving
privilege or serve as official identification. The buyers
purchase these documents in the na?ve belief they are
sanctioned by the state and meet all official requirements.
This bill would make it clear that such a practice is illegal.
3)Previous legislation . AB 811 (J. Perez) of 2009 would have
increased penalties for manufacturing or selling documents of
a size and form similar to official DMV licenses or IDs, and
placed restrictions on. The bill was vetoed by the governor,
who asserted that current law provisions are adequate.
Analysis Prepared by : Brad Williams / APPR. / (916) 319-2081