20250SB__133896AMD INTRODUCED 2026-02-20 AMENDED_SENATE 2026-03-25 AMENDED_SENATE 2026-04-23 AMENDED_SENATE 2026-05-14 2025 SB AMD Introduced by Senator Jones LEAD_AUTHOR SENATE Jones

An act to amend

Section of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. vehicles Vehicles: repossession. Existing law prohibits a person from interfering with the transport of a vehicle to a storage facility, auction, or dealer by an individual who is employed by a repossession agency or is licensed as a repossession agency once repossession is complete, as provided. Under existing law, a violation of this provision is an infraction, punishable by specified fines. This bill would double the fines, as specified.

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.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.</xhtml:p>"?> MAJORITY NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section of the Vehicle Code is amended to read: 10856. (a)

(1) A person shall not interfere with the transport of a vehicle to a storage facility, auction, or dealer by an individual who is employed by a repossession agency or who is licensed pursuant to

Chapter 11 (commencing with

Section 7500) of Division of the Business and Professions Code once repossession is complete as provided in

Section 7507.12 of the Business and Professions Code.

(2) A violation of this subdivision shall be punishable as an infraction, as follows: (

A) By a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200). (

B) For a second infraction occurring within one year of a prior infraction that resulted in a conviction, a fine not exceeding four hundred dollars ($400). (

C) For a third or subsequent infraction occurring within one year of two or more prior infractions that resulted in convictions, a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500).

(3) This subdivision shall not apply to a peace officer while acting in an official capacity. (b)

(1) Any tow yard, impounding agency, or governmental agency, or any person acting on behalf of those entities, shall not refuse to release a vehicle or other collateral to anyone that is legally entitled to that vehicle or other collateral.

(2) This subdivision shall not apply to a vehicle being held for evidence by law enforcement or a prosecuting attorney. (

c) For purposes of this section, “interfere” means to physically impede by obstructing, hindering, or preventing movement, including removing or disabling equipment used for transporting the vehicle. <caml:Num>SEC. 2.</caml:Num><caml:Content><xhtml:p>No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to

Section of

Article XIII<xhtml:span class="ThinSpace"/>B 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 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of

Section of

Article XIII<xhtml:span class="ThinSpace"/>B of the California Constitution.</xhtml:p></caml:Content></caml:BillSection>"?>