California is significantly strengthening its penalties for habitual drunk drivers. Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed four bills aimed at increasing criminal penalties and license sanctions for repeat DUI offenders.
Stricter Penalties for Repeat DUI Offenders
Starting in 2033, penalties for repeat drunk driving will become much stricter. Drivers with two DUI convictions within the past 10 years who are caught again can be prosecuted by prosecutors as felons. Those with four or more prior convictions who are caught yet again could face up to three years in prison.
The ‘Brown Law’ and Murder Charges
It will also become easier to charge repeat DUI offenders with murder. The so-called ‘Brown Law’ ensures that even if a DUI charge is reduced to a lesser offense, the court must officially warn the defendant that drunk driving can cause fatalities and that a repeat offense could lead to murder charges.
This warning aims to create an official record proving that the driver was fully aware of the lethal dangers of drunk driving beforehand. This record can then serve as a basis for applying murder charges if they cause a fatality in a subsequent drunk driving incident.
This law is named after 18-year-old Brown Levy, who was killed last May in Manhattan Beach when she was struck by a vehicle driven by a suspected repeat drunk driver. The driver who caused her death had previous DUI arrests, but the charge at the time was reduced to a hit-and-run.
Extended License Suspensions and Penalties
Beginning in 2031, drivers with four or more DUI-related convictions within 10 years who are caught again or cause bodily injury will face a six-year license revocation. Additionally, the DMV point penalty for vehicular manslaughter while under the influence will increase from two to three points.
