Article 3. Appeals From Decisions Of The Department of California Vehicle Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 6. >> Article 3.

(a) On or before the 10th day after the last day on which reconsideration of a final decision of the department can be ordered, the applicant or licensee may file an appeal with the executive director of the board. The appeal shall be in writing and shall state the grounds therefor. A copy of the appeal shall be mailed by the appellant to the department, and the department shall thereafter be considered as a party to the appeal. The right to appeal is not affected by failure to seek reconsideration before the department.
  (b) An appeal is considered to be filed on the date it is received in the office of the executive director of the board, except that an appeal mailed to the executive director by means of registered mail is considered to be filed with the executive director on the postmark date.
  (c) The appeal shall be accompanied by evidence that the appellant has requested the administrative record of the department and advanced the cost of preparation of that record. The complete administrative record includes the pleadings, all notices and orders issued by the department, any proposed decision by an administrative law judge, the exhibits admitted or rejected, the written evidence, and any other papers in the case. All parts of the administrative record requested by the appellant may be filed with the appeal together with the appellant's points and authorities. If the board orders the filing of additional parts of the administrative record, the board may order prior payment by the appellant of the cost of providing those additional parts.
  (d) Except as provided in subdivisions (e) and (f), a decision of the department may not become effective during the period in which an appeal may be filed, and the filing of an appeal shall stay the decision of the department until a final order is made by the board.
  (e) When a decision has ordered revocation of a dealer's license, the department may, on or before the last day upon which an appeal may be filed with the board, petition the board to order the decision of the department into effect.
  (f) With respect to the department's petition filed pursuant to subdivision (e), the department shall have the burden of proof. The board shall act upon the petition within 14 days or prior to the effective date of the department's decision, whichever is later. The board may order oral argument on the petition before the board.

The board shall determine the appeal upon the administrative record of the department, any evidence adduced at any hearing of the board, and upon any briefs filed by the parties. If any party to the appeal requests the right to appear before the board, the board shall set a time and place for such hearing, the production of any relevant evidence and argument.

The board shall have the power to reverse or amend the decision of the department if it determines that any of the following exist:
  (a) The department has proceeded without or in excess of its jurisdiction.
  (b) The department has proceeded in a manner contrary to the law.
  (c) The decision is not supported by the findings.
  (d) The findings are not supported by the weight of the evidence in the light of the whole record reviewed in its entirety, including any and all relevant evidence adduced at any hearing of the board.
  (e) There is relevant evidence, which in the exercise of reasonable diligence, could not have been produced or which was improperly excluded at the hearing.
  (f) The determination or penalty, as provided in the decision of the department is not commensurate with the findings.

The board shall also have the power to amend, modify, or reverse the penalty imposed by the department.

When the order reverses the decision of the department, the board may direct the department to reconsider the matter in the light of its order and may direct the department to take any further action as is specially enjoined upon it by law. In all cases the board shall enter its order within 60 days after the filing of the appeal, except in the case of unavoidable delay in supplying the administrative record, in which event the board shall make its final order within 60 days after receipt of the record.

The board shall fix an effective date for its orders not more than 30 days from the day the order is served upon the parties or remand the case to the department for fixing an effective date. A final order of the board shall be in writing and copies of the order shall be delivered to the parties personally or sent to them by registered mail. The order shall be final upon its delivery or mailing and no reconsideration or rehearing by the board shall be permitted.

Either party may seek judicial review of final orders of the board. Time for filing an action for such review shall not be more than 30 days from the date on which the final order of the board is delivered to the parties personally or is sent them by registered mail.