California’s New DUI Laws: What Drivers Need to Know

On September 25, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed four bills that strengthen California’s response to repeat DUI offenses. AB 1546, SB 907, AB 1685 and AB 1687 address felony charging, warnings given during plea agreements, certain hit-and-run penalties and consequences for driving privileges. For drivers in Riverside County, San Bernardino County and throughout California, the timing matters: some changes begin January 1, 2027, while others become operative in 2031.

AB 1546: A Third DUI May Become a Felony

Beginning January 1, 2027, AB 1546 makes a third qualifying DUI offense within ten years a “wobbler”—an offense that may be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or felony. A fourth qualifying offense remains a wobbler, while a fifth or subsequent qualifying offense becomes a straight felony.

The felony sentencing range under these provisions is sixteen months, two years or three years under Penal Code section 1170(h), ordinarily served in county jail unless a statutory exclusion applies. A felony classification does not mean every defendant will receive the maximum sentence.

Qualifying priors can include DUI, DUI causing injury and certain alcohol-related reckless driving convictions commonly called “wet reckless.” The relevant statutes concern separate violations that resulted in convictions, rather than arrests alone. AB 1546 also adds a third DUI punished as a felony to the provisions governing subsequent offenses after a prior felony DUI.

SB 907: Braun’s Law Expands DUI Warnings and Hit-and-Run Penalties

SB 907, which takes effect January 1, 2027, requires a court to give a Watson advisement when a defendant pleads guilty or no contest to a different or lesser offense substituted for an alleged Vehicle Code section 23152 DUI.

The warning explains that impaired driving is dangerous to human life and that a future impaired-driving incident resulting in death may lead to murder charges. The new requirement concerns a substitute plea; it does not apply merely because a DUI charge is dismissed without such a plea.

SB 907 also increases potential penalties for certain injury hit-and-run offenses committed within ten years of a qualifying prior violation resulting in conviction. The covered felony sentencing ranges are two, three or four years for injury cases, and three, four or five years when the collision causes death or permanent, serious injury. The statute retains misdemeanor sentencing alternatives. These changes concern leaving the scene of a collision, rather than every DUI involving injury.

AB 1685: Additional DMV Points for Gross Vehicular Manslaughter

Beginning January 1, 2031, AB 1685 assigns three DMV violation points to a conviction for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated under Penal Code section 191.5(a). It also adds that offense to the ten-year disclosure period for specified DMV conviction and accident records.

This change does not make every DUI a three-point offense. Ordinary DUI and DUI causing injury convictions remain two-point offenses under this bill. Vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated without gross negligence, under Penal Code section 191.5(b), also remains in the two-point category.

AB 1687: Irene’s Law Creates a Six-Year Licensing Consequence

AB 1687, known as Irene’s Law, becomes operative January 1, 2031. It imposes a seventy-two-month loss of driving privileges for specified DUI-causing-injury offenses when the current offense occurs within ten years of four or more separate qualifying prior violations resulting in convictions.

The current injury offense must fall under Vehicle Code section 23153(a), (b), (d), (e) or (g). The list does not include subdivision (f), the drug-only injury DUI provision.

A qualifying driver may apply for a restricted license after twelve months, subject to program participation, financial responsibility, fees and ignition-interlock requirements. The driver must agree to maintain a functioning certified ignition interlock device for a mandatory seventy-two-month term.

Although the bill uses “revocation” in its title and other provisions, the operative subsection describes the seventy-two-month action as a suspension. The law therefore requires careful review of both the qualifying conviction and the requirements for restricted driving.

Understanding Your Case Before Making Decisions

These laws make the precise charge, prior record and applicable dates especially important. A meaningful case assessment should examine the evidence supporting the current allegation, whether each claimed prior legally qualifies, and the criminal and licensing consequences of any proposed resolution.

If you face a DUI charge in Riverside County, San Bernardino County or elsewhere in Southern California, contact attorney Manuel Barba to discuss your case. With more than twenty years of DUI defense experience and thousands of cases handled, Manny helps clients understand their options and make informed decisions about their defense.

This article provides general information and reflects the signed legislation reviewed as of October 1, 2026. It is not legal advice for a particular case.