2010 California Code
Vehicle Code
Article 6. Endorsements

15275.  (a) A person may not operate a commercial motor vehicle
described in this chapter unless that person has in his or her
possession a valid commercial driver's license for the appropriate
class, and an endorsement issued by the department to permit the
operation of the vehicle unless exempt from the requirement to obtain
an endorsement pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 15278.
   (b) (1) An endorsement to drive vehicles specified in this article
shall be issued only to applicants who are qualified by examinations
prescribed by the department and who meet the minimum standards
established in Part 383 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal
Regulations.
   (2) A hazardous materials endorsement shall be issued only to
applicants who comply with paragraph (1) and the requirements set
forth in Part 1572 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
   (c) The department may deny, suspend, revoke, or cancel an
endorsement to drive vehicles specified in this article when the
applicant does not meet the qualifications for the issuance or
retention of the endorsement.
   (d) If the department denies, suspends, revokes, or cancels a
hazardous materials endorsement because the department received
notification that the applicant poses a security threat pursuant to
Part 1572 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and, upon
appeal by the United States Transportation Security Administration,
that endorsement is ordered reinstated, the department shall issue or
restore the hazardous materials endorsement to the applicant within
the period specified under those federal regulations.




15275.1.  (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a schoolbus
endorsement is valid only when the operator possesses or qualifies
for a valid commercial driver's license with a passenger endorsement
and possesses a schoolbus driver's certificate issued pursuant to
Section 12517.
   (b) A schoolbus endorsement is valid without a schoolbus driver's
certificate for an operator who is employed as a mechanic or a
schoolbus driver-trainee if the schoolbus endorsement is restricted
to operating a schoolbus when there is no pupil being transported.



15278.  (a) A driver is required to obtain an endorsement issued by
the department to operate any commercial motor vehicle that is any of
the following:
   (1) A double trailer.
   (2) A passenger transportation vehicle, which includes, but is not
limited to, a bus, farm labor vehicle, or general public paratransit
vehicle when designed, used, or maintained to carry more than 10
persons including the driver.
   (3) A schoolbus.
   (4) A tank vehicle.
   (5) A vehicle carrying hazardous materials, as defined in Section
353, that is required to display placards pursuant to Section 27903,
unless the driver is exempt from the endorsement requirement as
provided in subdivision (b). This paragraph does not apply to any
person operating an implement of husbandry who is not required to
obtain a driver's license under this code.
   (b) This section does not apply to any person operating a vehicle
in an emergency situation at the direction of a peace officer
pursuant to Section 2800.