AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2025

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

96

CHAPTER 68

Statutes of 2025

[ Approved by Governor July 28, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State July 28, 2025. ]

Introduced by Assembly Member Dixon

February 21, 2025

An act to amend Section 25 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: yes

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law makes it unlawful for the holder of an occupational license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles to use the initials “DMV,” the Department of Motor Vehicles logogram, or the words “Department of Motor Vehicles” in any business name or telephone number.

This bill would add internet domain names to the above list of prohibited uses. By expanding the application of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

The bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

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

SECTION 1.

Section 25 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

25.

(a) It is unlawful for a person to display or cause or permit to be displayed any sign, mark, or advertisement indicating an official connection with either the Department of Motor Vehicles or the Department of the California Highway Patrol unless the person has lawful authority, permission, or right to make that display.

(b) It is unlawful for the holder of an occupational license issued pursuant to Division 5 (commencing with Section 11100) to use the initials “DMV,” the Department of Motor Vehicles logogram, or the words “Department of Motor Vehicles” in any business name, telephone number, or internet domain name, as defined in Section 17527 of the Business and Professions Code. An occupational licensee shall not use the initials, logogram, or words in any advertisement in a way that indicates, or could be construed to indicate, an official connection with the Department of Motor Vehicles other than as a licensee.

SEC. 2.

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.