AB-1281 • 2026

Vehicles: leaving the scene of an accident.

Crime

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: DeMaio
Last action: 2026-01-13
Official status: From committee: Without further action pursuant to Joint Rule 62(a).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not mention additional penalties for leaving the scene of a crime involving vehicle manslaughter while intoxicated.

Leaving the Scene of an Accident

This law changes the prison sentence for leaving the scene of a car accident that causes serious injuries or death.

What This Bill Does

Requires drivers involved in accidents causing injury to another person or death to stop and provide personal information.
Currently, if someone leaves after such an accident, they face up to 4 years in state prison or jail time with fines.
The new law increases the punishment for leaving the scene of a serious injury or death from 2-4 years to 7-9 years in state prison.

Who It Names or Affects

Drivers who are involved in car accidents causing injuries or deaths

Terms To Know

Serious injury: An injury that causes permanent harm.
Vehicle manslaughter while intoxicated: Causing a death by driving drunk in a car accident.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if the driver leaves without causing serious injury or death.
It is unclear how this law will be enforced and whether it will reduce hit-and-run accidents.

Bill History

2026-01-13 California Legislative Information
From committee: Without further action pursuant to Joint Rule 62(a).
2026-01-13 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, final hearing. Failed passage.
2026-01-06 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-01-05 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-04-08 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-03-13 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
Read first time.
2025-02-22 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
Introduced. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1281, as amended, DeMaio.
Vehicles: leaving the scene of an accident.
Existing law requires the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than that driver, or in the death of a person, to immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident and provide specified personal information to the injured person or the occupants of the other vehicle and to any traffic or police officer at the scene of the accident. Under existing law, if a vehicle accident results in permanent, serious injury or death, a person who violates the requirement to stop is subject to punishment by imprisonment in the state prison for 2, 3, or 4 years, or in a county jail for not less than 90 days nor more than one year, or by a specified fine, or both the imprisonment and fine. Existing law requires a person who flees the scene of the crime after committing specified vehicle manslaughter while intoxicated or vehicle manslaughter to be
punished for an additional term of imprisonment of 5 years in the state prison, upon conviction, and in addition and consecutive to the punishment prescribed.
This bill would instead require a person who violates the requirement to stop to be subject to punishment by imprisonment in the state prison for
15
7, 8, or 9
years if the vehicle accident results in permanent, serious injury or death.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF