Vehicles: Blackout License Plate Program.

Assembly Member Garcia's proposal to create a California Blackout License Plate Program would establish a new specialized plate design featuring white lettering on a black background. The Department of Motor Vehicles would begin issuing these plates once 7,500 paid applications are received, with a deadline of January 1, 2030. If the minimum application threshold is not met by that date, the department would refund all collected fees to applicants.

Vehicle owners and lessees requesting these plates would pay additional fees beyond standard registration costs: $50 for initial issuance, $40 for registration renewals, $15 for transfers between vehicles, and $35 for replacement plates. Applicants could choose between accepting a DMV-assigned plate number or requesting a personalized combination of letters and numbers. The plates would not be available for vehicles already exempt from registration fees under existing law.

Revenue generated from the program would first cover the DMV's administrative costs, with remaining funds deposited into the California Environmental License Plate Fund for legislative appropriation. The plates would mirror the layout of standard California plates while incorporating the distinctive black and white color scheme, subject to current manufacturing capabilities.