Vehicles: repossession.

Existing law prohibits a person from interfering with the transport of a vehicle to a storage facility, auction, or dealer by an individual who is employed by a repossession agency or is licensed as a repossession agency once repossession is complete, as provided. A violation of these provisions would be an infraction pursuant to other provisions of law. This bill would instead make the interference with the transport of a vehicle to a storage facility, auction, or dealer, as described above, punishable as a misdemeanor. Because the bill would increase the punishment required by the crime, it would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.