California Governor Newsom signs new DUI penalty laws

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a legislative package comprising four bills designed to increase penalties for repeat drunk driving offenders. A central component of this package is Senate Bill 907, known as ‘Braun’s Law,’ which was authored by Senator Bob Archuleta in memory of Braun Levi, an 18-year-old student killed by a suspected repeat DUI offender in May 2025.

Braun’s Law mandates that judges provide formal warnings to defendants whose DUI charges are reduced through plea bargains. These warnings explicitly state that future impaired driving incidents resulting in death could lead to more severe criminal charges, including murder.

Other measures in the package include Assembly Bill 1546, which strengthens criminal penalties for repeat offenders within a ten-year period, and legislation authored by Assemblymember Tom Lackey that increases DMV violation points and extends license revocation periods. While the laws aim to curb rising DUI fatalities, some progressive groups have opposed the measures, arguing that increased enforcement may disproportionately impact low-income and marginalized communities.