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SB-1218 • 2026

Refusal of registration: illegal dumping violation penalties.

Refusal of registration: illegal dumping violation penalties.

Crime
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Arreguín
Last action
2026-04-17
Official status
Set for hearing April 27.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on enforcement timing or consequences for paying fines after refusal.

Penalties for Not Registering Vehicles with Illegal Dumping Violations

This law requires the DMV to refuse to renew vehicle registration if the owner or lessee has not paid fines for illegal dumping.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a rule that the DMV must refuse to renew a car's registration if the registered owner or lessee hasn't paid for an illegal dumping violation.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Vehicle owners and lessees with unpaid illegal dumping fines
  • The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Terms To Know

Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
A government agency that handles vehicle registration, driver's licenses, and related services.
Illegal dumping
Putting trash or waste in places where it is not allowed, like on roads or private property without permission.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if someone pays the fine after their registration was refused.
  • There is no information on when exactly this law would start to be enforced.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-17 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 27.

  2. 2026-04-15 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  3. 2026-03-26 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 14.

  4. 2026-03-04 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on TRANS.

  5. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22.

  6. 2026-02-19 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 1218, as introduced, Arreguín.
Refusal of registration: illegal dumping violation penalties.
Existing law requires, except as specified, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to refuse to renew the registration of a vehicle upon various grounds, including if the registered owner or lessee has been mailed a notice of a delinquent parking violation relating to standing or parking, the processing agency has filed or electronically transmitted to the department an itemization of unpaid parking penalties, and the owner or lessee has not paid the parking penalties.
Existing law makes it unlawful and punishable as an infraction for a person to dump or caused to be dumped waste matter upon a public or private highway or road, upon private property without the consent of the owner, or in or upon a public park or other public property, as specified. Existing law also makes it unlawful and punishable as a misdemeanor for a person to place, deposit,
or dump, or cause to be placed, deposited, or dumped, waste matter in commercial quantities, as specified.
This bill would similarly require the DMV to refuse to renew the registration of a vehicle if the registered owner or lessee has been mailed a notice of delinquent illegal dumping violation.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF