(a) Upon application for an original, renewal, or duplicate of a driver‘s license the department may require the applicant to produce any identification that it determines is necessary in order to ensure that the name of the applicant stated in the application is their true, full name and that their residence address as set forth in the application is their true residence address.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, any document provided by the applicant to the department for purposes of proving the applicant’s identity, true, full name, California residency, or that the applicant’s presence in the United States is authorized under federal law, is not a public record and shall not be disclosed by the department except in response to a subpoena for individual records in a criminal proceeding or a court order, or in response to a law enforcement request to address an urgent health or safety need if the law enforcement agency certifies in writing the specific circumstances that do not permit authorities time to obtain a court order. Immigration enforcement, as defined in § 7284.4 of the Government Code, does not constitute an urgent health and safety need for purposes of this subdivision.

Terms Used In California Vehicle Code 12800.7

  • Department: means the Department of Motor Vehicles except, when used in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 2100) of Division 2 and in Divisions 11 (commencing with Section 21000), 12 (commencing with Section 24000), 13 (commencing with Section 29000), 14 (commencing with Section 31600), 14. See California Vehicle Code 290
  • driver: is a person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle. See California Vehicle Code 305
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 482, Sec. 9. (AB 1766) Effective January 1, 2023.)