Section 38247 Of Article 9. Identification Fees From California Vehicle Code >> Division 16.5. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 9.
38247
. (a) When a transferee or purchaser of a vehicle applies for
transfer of identification, as provided in Section 38205, and it is
determined by the department that penalties accrued prior to the
purchase of the vehicle, and that the transferee or purchaser was not
cognizant of the nonpayment of the fees for identification for the
current or prior identification years, the department may waive the
identification penalties upon payment of the fees for identification
due.
(b) Other provisions of this code notwithstanding, the director
may at his discretion investigate into the circumstances of any
application for identification to ascertain if penalties had accrued
through no fault or intent of the owner. Provided such circumstances
prevail, the director may waive any penalties upon payment of the
fees for identification then due.
(c) When a transferee or purchaser of a vehicle applies for
transfer of identification of a vehicle, and it is determined by the
department that fees for identification of the vehicle for any year
are unpaid and due, that such fees became due prior to the purchase
of the vehicle by the transferee or purchaser and that the transferee
or purchaser was not cognizant of the fact that such fees were
unpaid and due, the department may waive such fees and any penalty
thereon when the identification fees due for the vehicle for the
current year are paid.
(d) Upon the transfer of a vehicle for which fees for
identification and any penalties thereon are unpaid and due, such
fees and penalties are, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 6
(commencing with Section 9800) of this chapter, the personal debt of
the transferor of the vehicle who did not pay such fees and penalties
when they became due or accrued. Such fees and penalties may be
collected by the department in an appropriate civil action if the
department has waived such fees and penalties pursuant to subdivision
(c).