5101.1.
(a) A person otherwise eligible under this article who is a family member of a member of the Armed Forces who was killed while serving on active duty in the military may apply for special license plates issued for a vehicle under this article.(b) The applicant shall provide a death certificate issued by the Armed Forces for the person who was killed while serving on active duty in the military, and shall by proof satisfactory to the department show that he or she is a family member of that person.
(c) Special license plates issued pursuant to this section shall contain a
gold star and the words “Gold Star Family.” The Department of the California Highway Patrol and the Department of Motor Vehicles shall have the opportunity to review the design of the plates for visibility and legibility.
(d) Sections 5106 and 5108 apply to this section.
(e) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates pursuant to this section, the special license plates shall be transferred to the surviving spouse, if he or she requests, or shall be returned to the department within 60 days after the death of the plateholder or upon the expiration of the vehicle registration, whichever occurs first.
(f) For the purposes of this section, “family member” means all of the following:
(1) Widow.
(2) Widower.
(3) Biological parent.
(4) Adoptive parent.
(5) Stepparent.
(6) Foster parent in loco parentis.
(7) Biological child.
(8) Adoptive child.
(9) Stepchild.
(10) Sibling.
(11) Half-sibling Half sibling.