California Vehicle Code Section 5101.2

(a) A person otherwise eligible under this article who is a firefighter or a retired firefighter may apply for special license plates for a vehicle under this article. License plates issued pursuant to this section shall be issued in accordance with Section 5060. (b) The applicant, by satisfactory proof, shall show all of the following: (1) The applicant is, or has retired, in good standing as an officer, an employee, or a member of a fire department or a fire service of the state, a county, a city, a district, or any other political subdivision of the state, whether in a volunteer, partly paid, or fully paid status. (2) The applicant is, or was until retirement, regularly employed as a firefighter or regularly enrolled as a volunteer firefighter. (3) The applicant`s principal duties fall, or fell until retirement, within the scope of active firefighting and any of the following activities: (A) Fire prevention service. (B) Fire training. (C) Hazardous materials abatement. (D) Arson investigation. (E) Emergency medical services. (c) The special license plates issued under this section shall contain the words California Firefighter and shall run in a regular numerical series. (d) In addition to the regular fees for an original registration, a renewal of registration, or a transfer of registration, the following special license plate fees shall be paid: (1) A fee of thirty-five dollars ($35) for the initial issuance of the special license plates. These special license plates shall be permanent and shall not be required to be replaced. (2) A fee of twenty dollars ($20) for each renewal of registration that includes the continued display of the special license plates. (3) If the special license plates become damaged or unserviceable, a fee of thirty-five dollars ($35) for the replacement of the special license plates, obtained from the department upon proper application therefor. (4) A fee of fifteen dollars ($15) for the transfer of the special license plates to another vehicle qualifying as a vehicle owned by a firefighter who has met the requirements set forth in subdivision (b). (5) In addition, for the issuance of environmental license plates, as defined in Section 5103, with the special firefighter personal vehicle license plates and distinctive design or decal, the additional fees prescribed in Sections 5106 and 5108. The additional fees collected pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited in the California Environmental License Plate Fund. (e) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates pursuant to this section, the plates shall be transferred to the surviving spouse, if he or she requests, or shall be returned to the department within 60 days after the death of the plateholder or upon the expiration of the vehicle registration, whichever occurs first. (f) Except as provided in paragraph (5) of subdivision (d), the revenues derived from the additional special fees provided in this section, less costs incurred by the department pursuant to this section, shall be deposited in the California Firefighters` Memorial Fund established by Section 18802 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.