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HomeVehicle CodeDiv. 3Ch. 1Art. 4§ 4460 Vehicle Document Seizure Authority

§ 4460 Vehicle Document Seizure Authority

Vehicle Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 4460 Vehicle Document Seizure Authority

Key Takeaways

  • •Police or DMV can take away fake, expired, or wrongly given driver's licenses, license plates, or disability placards.
  • •If your license plate is not on the right car, it can be taken away.
  • •Anything taken must be given to the DMV.

Example

You have a disability parking placard that expired last month.

If a police officer sees it, they can take it away because it's no longer valid.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 4460 Vehicle Document Seizure Authority

(a) The Department of Motor Vehicles, the Traffic Adjudication Board, and the Department of the California Highway Patrol, any regularly employed and salaried police officer or deputy sheriff or any reserve police officer or reserve deputy sheriff listed in Section 830.6 of the Penal Code may take possession of any certificate, card, placard, permit, license, or license plate issued under this code, upon expiration, revocation, cancellation, or suspension thereof or which is fictitious or which has been unlawfully or erroneously issued. Any license plate which is not attached to the vehicle for which issued, when and in the manner required under this code, may be seized, and attachment to the proper vehicle may be made or required. (b) Any document, placard, or license plate seized shall be delivered to the Department of Motor Vehicles. (Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 292, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 2004.)

Last verified: January 21, 2026

Key Terms

certificatecardplacardpermitlicenselicense plateDepartment of Motor VehiclesTraffic Adjudication BoardDepartment of the California Highway Patrolpolice officerdeputy sheriffreserve police officerreserve deputy sheriff

Related Statutes

  • § 4461 Disabled Parking Placard Use
  • § 12804.6 Transit Bus Driver Certification
  • § 4455 Permit Carrying Requirement
  • § 4456.3 Dealer Vehicle Sale Fees
  • § 4456.5 Dealer Document Processing Fees

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Vehicle Code. Section 4460.
View Official Source