Bill > AB1686

This bill would make it easier for individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) to face felony charges, even with fewer prior offenses. Currently, a DUI conviction with one or two prior DUI convictions within the last 10 years is typically a misdemeanor, though it carries escalating penalties. This bill proposes to amend existing law to allow these cases, with one or two prior DUI convictions, to be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony, aligning them with the current felony classification for those with three or more prior DUIs. The bill also adjusts the minimum jail time for these offenses, allowing for imprisonment under a broader section of the Penal Code or a minimum of 180 days in county jail, and mandates the surrender of the driver's license to the court. The legislation is considered a state-mandated local program because it increases the potential punishment for a crime, but it also states that no reimbursement is required for local agencies due to this change.

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https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1686