Key takeaways
- Governor Newsom signed four DUI bills on September 25, 2026: SB 907 (Braun’s Law), AB 1546, AB 1685 and AB 1687.
- A third DUI within 10 years can now be charged as a felony, and repeat offenders face murder charges more easily if they kill someone.
- The new laws generally take effect January 1, 2027. Crash victims can still bring a separate civil injury claim.
On September 25, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed four bills aimed at repeat drunk drivers, the most significant change to California’s DUI laws in years. The package comes as alcohol-related deaths on California roads have risen by more than 50% over the past decade, according to CalMatters.
Who was Braun Levi?
The headline bill is named for Braun Levi, an 18-year-old Loyola High School student and nationally ranked tennis player. His family had moved to Manhattan Beach after losing their home in the 2025 Palisades Fire. In May 2025, he was struck and killed while walking along Sepulveda Boulevard by a driver who had a prior DUI arrest.
The four new laws
- SB 907, “Braun’s Law” (Sen. Bob Archuleta): Drivers whose DUI charges are reduced to a lesser offense must now be warned about how dangerous impaired driving is. If they later kill someone while driving impaired, prosecutors can more easily bring a murder charge. It also increases penalties for fatal hit-and-runs by drivers with prior DUIs.
- AB 1546 (Asm. Nick Schultz): Allows prosecutors to charge a third DUI within 10 years as a felony. Previously, felony charges generally required a fourth offense.
- AB 1685 (Asm. Tom Lackey): Raises DMV points for a conviction of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated from two to three.
- AB 1687 (Asm. Tom Lackey): Lengthens how long the DMV must revoke the licenses of certain repeat DUI offenders.
Unless a bill says otherwise, new California laws signed in 2026 generally take effect on January 1, 2027.
What didn’t pass
Advocates had pushed for more. A proposal to require ignition interlock devices (in-car breathalyzers) for first-time DUI offenders did not pass this session, although most states have such a rule. Several other DUI bills died in committee. Supporters say they will return next year.
DUI enforcement is already stepping up
The California Highway Patrol reports more than 50,900 DUI arrests so far in 2026, along with dozens of sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols across the state.
What this means for victims of drunk drivers
Tougher criminal penalties punish the driver, but they don’t pay a victim’s medical bills or replace lost income. A DUI crash victim can bring a separate civil claim against the at-fault driver, whether or not criminal charges are filed. In California, drunk driving can also support a claim for punitive damages, which are meant to punish especially reckless conduct.
If you were hurt in a crash caused by an impaired driver, it helps to keep the police report number, photos, medical records and insurance information, and to speak with an attorney before giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer.
Hurt by someone else’s crime or reckless driving? A criminal case and a civil injury claim are separate. Even when the state prosecutes the person responsible, victims may have the right to seek compensation for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. The Law Office of Sean Keshishyan in Glendale offers free consultations for injury victims. Call (818) 246-6934 or send us a message.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and every situation is different. Please speak with a qualified attorney about your specific circumstances.
