5007
. (a) The department shall, upon application and without
additional fees, issue a special license plate or plates pursuant to
procedures adopted by the department to all of the following:
(1) A disabled person.
(2) A disabled veteran.
(3) An organization or agency involved in the transportation of
disabled persons or disabled veterans if the motor vehicle that will
have the special license plate is used solely for the purpose of
transporting those persons.
(b) The special license plates issued under subdivision (a) shall
run in a regular numerical series that shall include one or more
unique two-letter codes reserved for disabled person license plates
or disabled veteran license plates. The International Symbol of
Access adopted pursuant to Section 3 of Public Law 100-641, commonly
known as the "wheelchair symbol" shall be depicted on each plate.
(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (3), prior to issuing a
special license plate to a disabled person or disabled veteran, the
department shall require the submission of a certificate, in
accordance with paragraph (2), signed by the physician and surgeon,
or to the extent that it does not cause a reduction in the receipt of
federal aid highway funds, by a nurse practitioner, certified nurse
midwife, or physician assistant, substantiating the disability,
unless the applicant's disability is readily observable and
uncontested. The disability of a person who has lost, or has lost the
use of, one or more lower extremities or one hand, for a disabled
veteran, or both hands for a disabled person, or who has significant
limitation in the use of lower extremities, may also be certified by
a licensed chiropractor. The blindness of an applicant shall be
certified by a licensed physician and surgeon who specializes in
diseases of the eye or a licensed optometrist. The physician and
surgeon, nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, physician
assistant, chiropractor, or optometrist certifying the qualifying
disability shall provide a full description of the illness or
disability on the form submitted to the department.
(2) The physician and surgeon, nurse practitioner, certified nurse
midwife, physician assistant, chiropractor, or optometrist who signs
a certificate submitted under this subdivision shall retain
information sufficient to substantiate that certificate and, upon
request of the department, shall make that information available for
inspection by the Medical Board of California or the appropriate
regulatory board.
(3) For a disabled veteran, the department shall accept, in lieu
of the certificate described in paragraph (1), a certificate from the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs that certifies that the
applicant is a disabled veteran as described in Section 295.7.
(d) A disabled person or disabled veteran who is issued a license
plate or plates under this section shall, upon request, present to a
peace officer, or person authorized to enforce parking laws,
ordinances, or regulations, a certification form that substantiates
the eligibility of the disabled person or veteran to possess the
plate or plates. The certification shall be on a form prescribed by
the department and contain the name of the disabled person or
disabled veteran to whom the plate or plates were issued, and the
name, address, and telephone number of the medical professional
described in subdivision (c) who certified the eligibility of the
person or veteran for the plate or plates.
(e) The certification requirements of subdivisions (c) and (d) do
not apply to an organization or agency that is issued a special
license plate or plates under paragraph (3) of subdivision (a).
(f) The special license plate shall, upon the death of the
disabled person or disabled veteran, be returned to the department
within 60 days or upon the expiration of the vehicle registration,
whichever occurs first.
(g) When a motor vehicle subject to paragraph (3) of subdivision
(a) is sold or transferred, the special license plate or plates
issued to an organization or agency under paragraph (3) of
subdivision (a) for that motor vehicle shall be immediately returned
to the department.