Some new DUI laws will come into effect in 2010.  One of these new laws is very helpful for those drivers convicted of more that one DUI within a 10 year period.

NEW LAW SUMMARY: SB 598: New Bill will allow driver’s with multiple DUI convictions to get a restricted license much earlier than allowed under current law.

SECOND DUI CONVICTION WITHIN 10 YEARS: As the law currently stands, a person convicted of two separate DUIs within a 10 year period (with no bodily injury to another)vwill have their driver’s license suspended for 2 years, with the opportunity to obtain a restricted license (to drive for work related purposes) after 12 months.  To obtain a restricted license after 12 months, the driver must show proof of enrollment in the appropriate DUI class and pay a fine.

The new bill, which will become operative on July1, 2010 will allow a driver who has 2 DUI convictions with in a 10 year period, apply for a restricted license after only waiting 90 days if the drivber can show he is enrolled in the appropriate DUI class and has installed an ignition interlock device on the vehcile.

THIRD DUI CONVICTION WITHIN 10 YEARS:  As the law stands now, a person who has 3 DUI convictions within 10 years (with no bodily injury to another), will get their driver’s license revoked for 3 years and cannot apply for a restricted license to drive to work until they completed at least 2 years of the revocation period. This is a very long time to wait to be able to drive to work, and this law has caused many of my clients great hardship.

Thankfully, the new law will allow a driver with 3 DUI conviction the opportunity to obtain a restricted license after only a 6 month waiting period! Of course, the driver will have to show proof of enrollment in the appropriate DUI class, show an interlock device is installed on the vehicle and pay some fines.

NEW LAW SUMMARY: SB 91:  This law would create a pilot program that will require first time DUI offenders in Los Angeles, Alameda, Sacramento and Tulare counties, to install an ignition interlock device on their vehicle in order to be eligible for a restricted license. As the law stands right now, first time DUI offenders are normally not required to install an interlock device on their car, but under this pilot program, they will now be required to.