California · Vehicle Code

VEH §4463.5: (a) No person shall manufacture or sell a decorative or facsimile license plate of a size substantially similar to the license plate issued by the department.

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

It is illegal to manufacture or sell decorative or facsimile license plates similar in size to official state license plates, except when authorized by the director for special events or media productions. Violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of at least $500.

Read the full statutory text

(a) No person shall manufacture or sell a decorative or facsimile license plate of a size substantially similar to the license plate issued by the department. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the director may authorize the manufacture and sale of decorative or facsimile license plates for special events or media productions. (c) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500).

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.