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California impaired driving legislative measures

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-25 23:51 UTC → 2026-09-28 20:46 UTC · added removed

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bipartisan legislative package intended comprising four bills designed to reduce impaired driving fatalities increase penalties for repeat drunk-driving offenders in California. The measures include ‘Braun’s Law’ (Senate A central component is Senate Bill 907), which 907, or ‘Braun’s Law,’ authored by Senator Bob Archuleta in memory of Braun Levi, a student killed in May 2025. This law mandates that judges warn provide formal warnings to defendants that reducing whose DUI charges to lesser offenses could lead to are reduced through plea bargains, stating that future murder charges if subsequent impaired driving incidents occur. This law honors Braun Levi, a student killed resulting in May 2025. Additional legislation death could lead to more severe charges, including murder. The package also includes Assembly Bill Bills 1546, which increases 1685, and 1687. These measures strengthen criminal penalties for repeat offenders over within a ten-year period, and Assembly Bill 1685, which raises Department of Motor Vehicles increase DMV violation points from two to three. New components of the package, authored by Assemblymember Tom Lackey, further points, extend license revocation periods periods, and increase DMV violation points. strengthen consequences for hit-and-run crashes involving repeat offenders. Under the new laws, individuals convicted of a third DUI offense will face an eight-year license suspension, while those with four or more prior convictions will face felony charges. While road safety advocates the legislation has received support from law enforcement and safety groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving, it has faced opposition from the changes, some ACLU and progressive groups have raised concerns regarding legislators concerned about the potential disproportionate impact of increased enforcement on low-income and marginalized communities. Additionally, Governor Newsom noted technical hurdles regarding implementation. The state currently lacks the technology required to enforce AB 1685 and 1687, which are not scheduled to take effect until 2031. Consequently, the Governor has requested interim legislation to require the California Department of Motor Vehicles to adopt a centralized system for tracking DUI convictions.

Versions

  1. 2026-09-28 20:46 UTC California impaired driving legislative measures
  2. 2026-09-25 23:51 UTC California impaired driving legislative measures
  3. 2026-09-25 18:16 UTC California impaired driving legislative measures

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