Article 1. Administration of California Vehicle Code >> Division 14.7. >> Article 1.

It is the intent of the Legislature to provide additional protection to the public and reduce the risk of possible hazards in the highway transportation of hazardous waste and of flammable and combustible liquids in tank vehicles. It is further the intent of the Legislature that the Department of the California Highway Patrol shall place as a high priority the random inspection of cargo tanks and hazardous waste transport vehicles and containers for compliance with this code.

The provisions of this division refer to vehicles having a cargo tank and to hazardous waste transport vehicles and containers, as defined in Section 25167.4 of the Health and Safety Code, that are operating on highways within this state.

(a) It is the legislative intention that the regulations adopted by the commissioner pursuant to this division shall apply uniformly throughout the State of California, and no state agency, city, city and county, county, or other political subdivision of this state, including, but not limited to, a chartered city, city and county, or county, shall adopt or enforce any ordinance or regulation which is inconsistent with this division.
  (b) No other state agency, city, city and county, county, or other public agency of this state, including, but not limited to, a chartered city, city and county, or county, shall enforce any provisions regarding the design and construction of any cargo tank subject to this division, regardless of the location of the cargo tank, or the area of operation of the cargo tank, within this state.

As used in this division:
  (a) "Cargo tank" means any tank having a volumetric capacity in excess of 120 gallons that is used for the transportation of flammable liquids or combustible liquids. "Cargo tank" includes pumps, meters, valves, fittings, piping, and other appurtenances attached to a tank vehicle and used in connection with the flammable liquids or combustible liquids being transported in the cargo tank except that the volumetric capacity refers to the capacity of the container portion of a cargo tank. "Cargo tank" does not include any of the following:
  (1) Any tank used only to carry fuel necessary for the operation of the vehicle or any equipment of the vehicle.
  (2) Any tank containing not more than 120 gallons of residue. For purposes of this paragraph, "residue" means the liquid material remaining after a tank has been unloaded to the maximum extent practicable through the normal discharge opening.
  (3) Any intermodal portable tank, meeting United States Department of Transportation IM 101 or IM 102 Specification transported as part of an interstate shipment when operated within a 25-mile radius of its ocean port or railroad terminal loading or unloading facility.
  (4) Any tank meeting the requirements of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, with a volumetric capacity of less than 500 gallons used to transport flammable or combustible liquids, except a portable tank used to transport an inhalation hazard as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 32101.
  (5) Any tank designated by the United States Department of Transportation as a "single trip container" or "nonreusable container," marked and used as such, with a volumetric capacity of less than 500 gallons.
  (6) Any vehicle that is registered in any other state and is used for refueling aircraft while operating in this state pursuant to a contract with this state or the United States for the conduct of fire suppression or other emergency-related activities.
  (b) "Tank vehicle" means any truck, trailer, or semitrailer equipped with a cargo tank which is used for the transportation of flammable liquids or combustible liquids within this state.
  (c) "Flammable liquids" and "combustible liquids" mean those liquids as defined by the regulations adopted by the commissioner pursuant to Section 2402.7.

The provisions of this division shall apply equally to new as well as existing cargo tanks.

The provisions of this division shall not apply to a trap wagon or spray rig when empty or when transporting not more than 1,000 gallons of flammable liquids or combustible liquids to accomplish the basic function of such vehicle. For the purpose of this section, "trap wagon" and "spray rig" have the same meaning of those terms as defined in Section 36005.

The provisions of this division shall not apply to "wine," as defined by Section 23007 of the Business and Professions Code, or any other aqueous solution, having an alcoholic content less than, or equal to, 24 percent by volume. This exemption applies only if the nonalcohol portion of the aqueous solution does not fall within the definition of flammable or combustible liquid.