The state is considering requiring that all people apply for a license for their vehicle to operate it.
The bill, which was first introduced in January and has not yet passed, is expected to be debated by the state Senate on Tuesday.
The legislation would require all applicants to provide a state-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, or have a “barcode-like identifier” that can be read by license enforcement officers.
It would also require that all applicants have the same license plate number on the vehicle, even if they are different individuals.
“License plate numbers are not the same as individual license plates,” said Sen. Mark Leno, a Republican from San Francisco.
“The California DMV does not have the power to issue a license plate without a unique identification number, which could be used to track a vehicle’s whereabouts, as is the case with cellphones and other digital devices.”
The bill also would require that license plates be issued by the county where they are issued, which would require additional cost for the DMV.
A similar bill has been introduced in Washington state, and a similar measure in New Jersey.
California already requires license plates to be valid for at least a year.
However, that requirement is in place only for certain vehicles.
The new bill would also allow license plate numbers to be used for commercial purposes, and it would allow them to be issued to a private entity.
The state Department of Motor Vehicles, which regulates the licensing of motor vehicles, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The California bill would go into effect as soon as the Senate approves it.