California DUI Failures Exposed: Deaths Climb as Lawmakers Gut Interlock Push

Overview

• Alcohol-involved roadway deaths in California have risen by more than 50% over the past decade, with 1,355 killed in 2023 even after a slight year-over-year dip.
• State law generally delays felony charges until a fourth DUI in 10 years unless there is injury, and DUI deaths are not categorized as violent felonies, yielding lighter sentences.
• Repeat offenders often regain licenses faster than in other states, with some drivers holding licenses after five or more DUIs, according to court and DMV records.
• California does not require ignition interlock devices for first-time offenders and judges ordered them for fewer than 10% of second-offense convictions in many counties, despite devices blocking over 30,500 impaired starts in 2023.
• This fall, legislators weakened a proposal to mandate interlocks for all DUI convictions after the DMV cited limited capacity, and multiple fatal cases show prior DUIs failed to prevent later crashes.