Sts. & Hy. Code, § 30900

Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, the legislative body of a city may grant upon such terms, limitations, conditions, and restrictions and under such supervision as in its judgment are necessary and proper, franchises, privileges, or licenses for the construction, maintenance, and operation of toll ferries and for the taking and keeping of tolls from such ferries when the following conditions exist:

(a) The toll ferry is operated wholly within the boundaries of such city.

(b) None of the route or routes of such toll ferry constitute a part or an extension of a state highway or a state highway route.

(c) No part of the route or routes of the toll ferry for which a franchise, privilege or license is being processed is within 10 miles of a toll bridge in operation or under construction over any body of water across which said toll ferry is to operate.

(d) The director finds that no toll bridge is planned or contemplated in a location where such ferry would compete with it. Failure of the director to make a finding and advise the legislative body of the city of such finding in writing within 30 days after being advised in writing by the legislative body of a city that it is considering granting a franchise, privilege, or license to operate a toll ferry that such a toll bridge is planned or contemplated shall be deemed a finding that no such toll bridge is planned or contemplated.