If you are a driver in California, brace yourself for new laws that can impact your driving experience. Specifically, Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed into law four bills that will increase the consequences of impaired drivers.
One of the four new DUI laws is named after 18-year-old Braun Levi, a deceased victim of a suspected repeat DUI offender. These laws lead to stricter and longer-lasting legal consequences, especially for repeat offenders.
Braun’s law
If the prosecution offers a plea deal to reduce your DUI charge to a lesser offense, courts must now formally warn you about future consequences. Furthermore, courts must tell you that if you drive impaired again and someone dies, you can face murder charges, not just manslaughter.
This formal advisement creates an official record confirming you understand the legal risks. It can make it easier for prosecutors to argue you knew the risks if a future fatal incident occurs. Thus, this can make it challenging for you to avoid serious charges if you reoffend.
Three additional measures
Three accompanying Assembly bills significantly increase the penalties associated with multiple DUI convictions. They specifically target repeat offenders and lead to stricter sentencing. These are the noteworthy changes that these laws enacted:
- Third offense DUI Felony: AB 1546 now makes a third DUI offense in 10 years a wobbler, which means it can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony.
- Increased DMV points: AB 1685 strengthens the penalties for vehicular manslaughter under intoxication from two points to three points on your driving record.
- Longer license revocations: AB 1687 and related measures extend the length of a driver’s license revocation. For instance, if you incur four or more qualifying convictions in a single 10-year period, license revocation lasts up to six years.
- Ignition Interlock conditions: The new laws mandate stricter requirements for ignition interlock devices (IIDs) for specific repeat offenders.
These laws can mean longer license revocations and more ignition interlock device (IID) requirements for some repeat offenders. Therefore, California drivers must be more vigilant to avoid legal penalties.
What it means for you
If you are a defendant, this may not change the outcomes and procedures in your current case. However, it can affect your plea advisements and increase the risks of any future DUI-related incident.
Be aware that even a reduced charge now carries a permanent legal warning that can escalate future incidents. Consider getting legal advice before accepting any plea, especially if it involves a reduced charge.