Editorial: Lawmakers take aim at state’s lax DUI rules

An investigative series about California’s lax drunken driving laws by CalMatters is prompting the Legislature to take action with 10 new bills. Each one needs to be evaluated based on its merits. But it’s encouraging to see lawmakers spend their time on a deadly problem that is primarily caused by the state’s bureaucratic failures.

Bottom line: The Department of Motor Vehicles allows repeat DUI offenders to keep getting back on the road.

This Editorial Board does not advocate for new laws lightly. Too often, the state rushes to “do something” about an identified problem, but fails to implement effective solutions.

As CalMatters noted, “California too often fails to differentiate between drunk drivers who made a dangerous mistake but learn from it and those who refuse to stop endangering lives.”

It’s easy for the government to get tough by going after the easy marks rather than targeting the real wrongdoers. In our previous editorial, we offered this guidance: California “must not just boost penalties overall, but instead needs to go after the tougher marks: those who repeatedly and wantonly endanger other citizens.”

Based on CalMatters’ latest report, some of these bipartisan measures seem to get that balance right.

One measure would turn vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence into a felony, which is sensible for drivers who continually drive drunk. Another would add points for drivers who have their misdemeanor convictions wiped.

It’s inexplicable that “drivers can get points added to their license for speeding, but not for killing someone,” as the publication explains.

We’re not in favor of a bill that would ban repeat DUI offenders from buying alcohol, which would be easily scuttled and expands beyond the scope of driving. That bill, introduced by Asm. Rhodesia Ransom, D-Stockton, is similar to a law recently enacted in Utah. The least California should do is wait and see if it even works in Utah. As noted, we have our doubts.

But we have no problem with mandating in-car breathalyzers for repeat drunken drivers. That’s a more direct hurdle for those whose bad behavior must be curtailed. That proposal was introduced by Asm. Cottie Petrie-Norris, a Democrat from Orange County.

We also see the wisdom in longer license revocations for repeat drunken drivers. When people are repeatedly choosing to violate clear and simple rules of the road, there must be consequence. That proposal has been introduced by Palmdale-area Republican Assemblyman Tom Lackey.

In other words, any laws should target drivers who repeatedly endanger other people’s lives rather than drivers who made a one-time mistake. While none of these laws individually can stop the scourge of drunk driving, they can help stop or hold accountable those at highest risk of abusing the freedom to drive and endangering others in the process.

We’ll see where these measures go, but lawmakers are right to close glaring­ loopholes and focus on repeat offenders