(a) No person shall manufacture or sell a decorative or facsimile license plate of a size substantially similar to the license plate issued by the department.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the director may authorize the manufacture and sale of decorative or facsimile license plates for special events or media productions.
(c) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500).