California has signed a package of four laws aimed largely at repeat DUI offenses. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bills on September 25, 2026. For drivers, the key distinction is when each change takes effect: the new repeat-offense penalties and Braun’s Law are expected to apply in 2027, while two DMV changes are expressly delayed until January 1, 2031. Governor of California
Here is what the new laws do and what someone facing a California DUI charge should understand now.
A third DUI within 10 years can carry a felony charge
Assembly Bill 1546 increases the potential punishment for repeat DUI offenses. Under the new law, a driver charged with a third qualifying DUI within 10 years may face a charge that prosecutors can pursue as either a misdemeanor or a felony. That does not mean every third DUI automatically becomes a felony. The prior convictions, dates, current charge, and facts of the case matter.
The practical takeaway: If you have prior DUI or qualifying “wet reckless” convictions, tell your attorney about all of them immediately, including cases from other counties. A prior case can change the stakes of a new arrest.
Braun’s Law addresses DUI charges reduced to lesser offenses
Senate Bill 907, known as Braun’s Law, is named for Braun Levi, an 18-year-old who was killed in Manhattan Beach in 2025 by a suspected repeat impaired driver. One provision requires a court to give a warning about the potentially deadly consequences of impaired driving when a defendant pleads guilty or no contest to a lesser offense in place of an alleged DUI. The bill also increases potential penalties for certain injury or fatal hit-and-run offenses when the driver has a qualifying prior driving conviction within 10 years. Governor of California
A reduced DUI charge should never be mistaken for a consequence-free result. The exact terms of a plea, its effect on the driving record, and how it may be treated in a future case all deserve careful review before a driver accepts it.
Two other signed changes are scheduled for 2031
The remaining bills are part of the same 2026 package, but their new provisions are not scheduled to operate in 2027:
- AB 1685 adds three DMV violation points for a conviction of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated with gross negligence and changes certain record-disclosure rules. Its provisions become operative January 1, 2031. AB-1685 Driving privilege: points.
- AB 1687, also called Irene’s Law, establishes a 72-month driving-privilege penalty for a narrowly defined DUI-with-injury case involving four or more qualifying prior convictions within 10 years. It includes conditions under which a driver may seek a restricted license after 12 months, including an ignition interlock device. Its new section becomes operative January 1, 2031. AB-1687 Driver’s licenses: revocation.
These delayed dates matter. A headline saying all four new penalties start in 2027 would give drivers the wrong impression.
Arrested for DUI? The DMV clock starts quickly
A California DUI case can involve two separate tracks: the criminal case in court and an administrative action affecting your driving privilege. According to the California DMV, a driver generally has 10 days after receiving a suspension or revocation order to request a DMV hearing. The DMV action can proceed independently of the criminal case, and reducing a criminal DUI charge does not necessarily undo a DMV suspension.
Keep the paperwork you received from the officer, note when you received it, and address the DMV deadline promptly. Do not assume your first court date is the only date that matters.
What should California drivers remember for 2027?
The 2026 legislation raises the potential consequences of repeat impaired-driving cases. A third qualifying DUI within 10 years can present felony exposure, and a plea to a lesser charge can still carry a formal warning with serious implications if impaired driving happens again. Meanwhile, the new three-point DMV rule and Irene’s Law are set for 2031, not 2027.
If you were arrested for DUI in California, the details of your current charge and prior record can make a major difference. The Ticket Clinic can review your case and help you understand the court process and the separate DMV deadlines.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information, not legal advice. Laws and their application depend on the facts and timing of a case. Speak with a California attorney about your specific situation.
