(a) Every person, firm, partnership, association, trustee, or corporation that operates a service station shall provide, upon request, refueling service to a disabled driver of a vehicle that displays a disabled person’s plate or placard, or a disabled veteran’s plate, issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. The price charged for the motor vehicle fuel shall be no greater than that which the station otherwise would charge the public generally to purchase motor vehicle fuel without refueling service.
(b) Any person or entity specified in subdivision (a) that operates a service station shall be exempt from this section during hours when:
(1) Only one employee is on duty.
(2) Only two employees are on duty, one of whom is assigned exclusively to the preparation of food.
As used in this subdivision, the term “employee” does not include a person employed by an unrelated business that is not owned or operated by the entity offering motor vehicle fuel for sale to the general public.
(c) (1) Every person, firm, partnership, association, trustee, or corporation required to provide refueling service for persons with disabilities pursuant to this section shall post the following notice, or a notice with substantially similar language, in a manner and single location that is conspicuous to a driver seeking refueling service:
“Service to Disabled Persons
Disabled individuals properly displaying a disabled person’s plate or placard, or a disabled veteran’s plate, issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, are entitled to request and receive refueling service at this service station for which they may not be charged more than the self-service price.”
(2) If refueling service is limited to certain hours pursuant to an exemption set forth in subdivision (b), the notice required by paragraph (1) shall also specify the hours during which refueling service for persons with disabilities is available.
(3) Every person, firm, partnership, association, trustee, or corporation that, consistent with subdivision (b), does not provide refueling service for persons with disabilities during any hours of operation shall post the following notice in a manner and single location that is conspicuous to a driver seeking refueling service:
“No Service for Disabled Persons
This service station does not provide refueling service for disabled individuals.”
(4) The signs required by paragraphs (1) and (3) shall also include a statement indicating that drivers seeking information about enforcement of laws related to refueling services for persons with disabilities may call one or more toll-free telephone numbers specified and maintained by the Department of Rehabilitation. By January 31, 1999, the Director of the Department of Rehabilitation shall notify the State Board of Equalization of the toll-free telephone number or numbers to be included on the signs required by this subdivision. At least one of these toll-free telephone numbers shall be accessible to persons using telephone devices for the deaf. The State Board of Equalization shall publish information regarding the toll-free telephone numbers as part of its annual notification required by subdivision (i). In the event that the toll-free telephone number or numbers change, the Director of the Department of Rehabilitation shall notify the State Board of Equalization of the new toll-free telephone number or numbers to be used.
(d) During the county sealer’s normal petroleum product inspection of a service station, the sealer shall verify that a sign has been posted in accordance with subdivision (c). If a sign has not been posted, the sealer shall issue a notice of violation to the owner or agent. The sealer shall be reimbursed, as prescribed by the department, from funds provided under Chapter 14. If substantial, repeated violations of subdivision (c) are noted at the same service station, the sealer shall refer the matter to the appropriate local law enforcement agency.
(e) The local law enforcement agency shall, upon the verified complaint of any person or public agency, investigate the actions of any person, firm, partnership, association, trustee, or corporation alleged to have violated this section. If the local law enforcement agency determines that there has been a denial of service in violation of this section, or a substantial or repeated failure to comply with subdivision (c), the agency shall levy the fine prescribed in subdivision (f).
(f) Any person who, as a responsible managing individual setting service policy of a service station, or as an employee acting independently against the set service policy, acts in violation of this section is guilty of an infraction punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars ($100) for the first offense, two hundred dollars ($200) for the second offense, and five hundred dollars ($500) for each subsequent offense.
(g) In addition to those matters referred pursuant to subdivision (e), the city attorney, the district attorney, or the Attorney General, upon his or her own motion, may investigate and prosecute alleged violations of this section. Any person or public agency may also file a verified complaint alleging violation of this section with the city attorney, district attorney, or Attorney General.
(h) Enforcement of this section may be initiated by any intended beneficiary of the provisions of this section, his or her representatives, or any public agency that exercises oversight over the service station, and the action shall be governed by Section 1021.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(i) An annual notice setting forth the provisions of this section shall be provided by the State Board of Equalization to every person, firm, partnership, association, trustee, or corporation that operates a service station.
(j) A notice setting forth the provisions of this section shall be printed on each disabled person’s placard issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles on and after January 1, 1999. A notice setting forth the provisions of this section shall be provided to each person issued a disabled person’s or disabled veteran’s plate on and after January 1, 1998.
(k) For the purposes of this action “refueling service” means the service of pumping motor vehicle fuel into the fuel tank of a motor vehicle.
(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 879, Sec. 26.4. Effective January 1, 1999.)