Gov. Newsom signs 4 bills changing DUI laws as repeat offenders face felony charges
New legislation targets repeat offenders with harsher penalties and license suspensions.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of bills into law Friday aimed at increasing penalties for repeat offenders who drive under the influence. The legislation seeks to transform some misdemeanor offenses into felonies and extend the duration of license suspensions for habitual offenders. The measures also allow prosecutors to bring more serious charges against drivers with multiple infractions, potentially including murder.
“Getting behind the wheel when you are impaired is inexcusable, especially when it results in the loss of someone’s life,” Newsom stated in a Friday release. The Governor emphasized the need for greater accountability for those who break driving laws.
A central component of the new legislation is SB 907, officially known as “Braun’s Law.” The bill is named for Braun Levi, an 18 year old student and tennis star at Loyola High School in Los Angeles. Levi held four Mission League doubles championships and was a nationally ranked player. Officials say Levi was struck and killed on May 4, 2025, after being hit by a vehicle on Sepulveda Boulevard in the Manhattan Beach neighborhood.
Authorities state the driver involved had an alcohol concentration twice the legal limit and was driving with a suspended license due to a prior DUI arrest. The bill was introduced by Senator Bob Archuleta, a Democrat representing the Pico Rivera area. Archuleta stated that his granddaughter was killed by an impaired driver, making the legislation a personal cause. He noted that the law requires convicted drivers to be informed that a second offense could lead to more serious criminal charges. The new law takes effect on Jan. 1.
Separate legislation, AB 1687, addresses the duration of license suspensions. Under current rules, a judge may suspend a driver's license for three years in cases involving repeat offenders. The new law extends this suspension period to six years. This specific change is set to go into effect in 2031.
Another bill, AB 1546, modifies the classification of third and fourth DUI convictions. Currently, a third DUI within a 10 year period is considered a misdemeanor, while a fourth conviction is charged as a felony. AB 1546 changes the status of the third offense to a “wobbler,” a category where prosecutors can choose to file felony or misdemeanor charges. A conviction as a felony would carry a longer sentence. The fourth conviction would remain a felony, with a potential prison sentence of up to three years. The law is scheduled to take effect in 2033.
AB 1685 targets points added to a driver's record. The bill increases the number of points assigned for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and gross negligence. Violations currently result in two points, but the new law raises this to three points. Under state guidelines, a driver can face license suspension if they accumulate four points within a one year period. The changes to the points system are also set to begin in 2031.
Assemblymember Nick Schultz, a Democrat from Burbank and chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee, highlighted the preventive nature of the bills. “Over the course of the year, we have heard heartbreaking testimony from families across California who have lost loved ones due to drunk driving,” Schultz said. He referred to these deaths as preventable.
Assemblymember Tom Lackey, a Republican from Palmdale and a former California Highway Patrol sergeant, supported the tougher consequences. “Protecting innocent lives and making sure every Californian has the chance to make it home safely is something we should all stand behind,” Lackey stated.
First reported by LA Times: California.
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