Recent Changes to California DUI Laws- AB 1601

Recent Changes to California DUI Laws- AB 1601

Recent changes that need to be discussed in the area of Los Angeles DUI laws. State employee, Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) introduced legislation to prevent repeat DUI offenders.  This bill was signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and is now in effect. Assembly Bill 1601(AB 1601) authorizes California Judges to revoke the offender's driver's license for 10 years for offenders convicted of three (3) or more DUIs in a 10-year period.  A provision in the bill currently signed states that AB 1601 will go into effect January 1, 2012.

Currently the law allows for only a license revocation period of three years for someone with three or more DUIs. The purpose of this law is to punish repeat California drunk driver offenders, which is about 10,000 repeat offenders every year.

According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, there were about 200,000 DUI convictions in California in the year 2008. Of the total convictions, 9,164 were third-time DUI offenders within 10 years and another3,200 had four or more DUI offenses.

DUI offenses are very common crimes, yet they must be taken serious because without the proper DUI Attorney fines and penalties are harsh and will affect the person's ability to move on with their lives.  With theLos Angeles DUI Lawyers at the Law Offices of Loren M. Merlin we can help reduce or eliminate penalties and fines handed down due to first or multiple DUI offenses.

If you have any questions concerning penalties for a DUI conviction in Los Angeles, please call Los Angeles DUI Lawyers Law Offices of Loren M. Merlin we will be happy to discuss your DUI defense situation with you.