South San Francisco Lawmaker's Bill Means No More Blank Paper License Plates in CA

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Legislation authored by a South San Francisco state legislator requiring car dealers to install temporary vehicle plates instead of paper tags on newly bought vehicles was signed into law by the governor this week.

Assembly Bill 516 by Assembly Speaker pro Tem Kevin Mullin, D-San Francisco, is aimed at helping catch toll evaders and other lawbreakers. Signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday after getting approved by the Legislature last month, it requires the state Department of Motor Vehicles to develop a system by 2019 to allow dealers to electronically report the sale of a vehicle.

Mullin says the bill will help "modernize" California's current system by assigning the temporary plates at the point of sale before a vehicle drives off the lot.

"The impetus behind the bill came from a fatal hit and run accident, in southern California in 2013," the assemblyman's website states. "The vehicle involved was caught on video surveillance and has yet to be found and the case left unsolved because there were paper dealer plates on the vehicle."

As Mullin spoke about the bill to his colleagues earlier this month, he said there are tens of thousands of vehicles driving on California roadways without license plates on any given day.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission, which oversees Bay Area regional transportation planning and financing, supported the bill and estimates that California's Bay Area loses roughly $9 million annually in uncollected tolls, while toll roads and express lanes in Southern California lose about $10 million per year.

“I am very excited that Governor Brown has signed AB 516 into law,” Mullin said in a statement. “I appreciate the effort of all the stakeholders, who met with me and my staff to craft a bill that gives law enforcement agencies information to help solve crimes that has been unavailable to them in the past."

Mullin represents California's 22nd Assembly District, which encompasses the communities of: Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Emerald Lake Hills, Foster City, Highlands-Baywood Park, Hillsborough, Millbrae, Montara, Pacifica, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Mateo, San Mateo - Moss Beach, and South San Francisco.

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– Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

(Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone)