California Revenue & Taxation Code
Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code § 11106
The vehicle license fee ordinance adopted under this part shall be imposed for the privilege of operating upon the public highways in the county any vehicle of a type which is subject to registration under the Vehicle Code unless specifically exempt under the terms of the ordinance, and shall include provisions in substance as follows:
# (a)
A provision fixing the annual amount of the license fee which shall be an amount not exceeding ten dollars ($10) for every vehicle of a type subject to registration under the Vehicle Code. The ordinance may provide a different fee for any class of vehicles provided no fee shall exceed ten dollars ($10) per vehicle.
# (b)
Provisions identical to those contained in Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of Division 2 of this code, insofar as they relate to vehicle license fees and are applicable, except that the name of the county as the taxing agency shall be substituted for that of the state, and that the term “vehicle of a type subject to registration under the Vehicle Code” does not include (1)any vehicle in the inventory of vehicles held for sale by a manufacturer, distributor or dealer in the course of his business until such time as the vehicle is sold, (2)any trailer coach, or (3)any class of vehicles specifically made exempt from the vehicle license fees authorized by this part by the terms of the ordinance imposing such fees.
# (c)
A provision that all amendments, subsequent to the effective date of the county vehicle license fee ordinance, to Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of Division 2 of this code relating to vehicle license fees and not inconsistent with this part, shall automatically become a part of the county vehicle license fee ordinance.
# (d)
A provision that the county contract with the Department of Motor Vehicles to perform all functions incident to the administration or operation of the vehicle license fee ordinance of the county.
# (e)
A provision that the vehicle license fee ordinance shall become operative on the first day of January of the year next succeeding the year in which the ordinance is adopted, subject to the provisions of Section 11104.
# (f)
A provision that the total revenue derived from any vehicle license fee ordinance, less any costs charged by the Department of Motor Vehicles for its services, shall be distributed to the county for the construction (as defined in Section 29 of the Streets and Highways Code) of a county expressway system or the select system of a county.
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