Plain English Breakdown
The official text does not define what constitutes the 'specified convictions' required for prior offenses, leaving some uncertainty about which past cases count.
AB-1686: Changing DUI Penalties to Include Felonies
This law allows prosecutors to charge a third or fourth drunk driving offense within 10 years as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
What This Bill Does
- Changes the penalty for a DUI occurring within 10 years of one or two prior specified convictions so it can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
- Keeps first-time DUI offenses punishable only as misdemeanors under current rules.
Who It Names or Affects
- Drivers convicted of a DUI who have one or two separate prior DUI violations within the last 10 years that resulted in specified convictions.
- Local agencies and courts handling these specific criminal cases, which now face state-mandated costs without reimbursement.
Terms To Know
- Misdemeanor
- A less serious crime that is currently the only penalty for first-time DUIs and some repeat offenses under existing law.
- Felony
- A more serious crime classification that this bill adds as an option for drivers with one or two prior specified convictions within 10 years.
Limits and Unknowns
- The official text does not specify the exact length of jail time, fine amounts, or other specific penalties for these new felony charges.
- The bill states no reimbursement is required but only mentions it is 'for a specified reason' without listing that reason in this summary.