How have courts interpreted section 5364 of the California Criminal Code?

In light of all the considerations mentioned, we must conclude that respondent court's interpretation of section 5364 is correct. This result does not necessarily turn upon the narrow question whether the language of the statute is plain or ambiguous. While it is generally true that ambiguity in a statute is a condition precedent to its interpretation, the 'literal meaning' of its words 'may be disregarded to avoid absurd results or to give effect to manifest purposes that, in light of the statute's legislative history, appear from its provisions considered as a whole.' (Silver v. brown (1966) 63 Cal.2d 841, 845--846, 48 Cal.Rptr. 609, 612, 409 P.2d 689, 692 and cases cited; Leffel v. Municipal Court, supra, 54 Cal.App.3d 569 at p. 572, 126 Cal.Rptr. 773.)