Anyone found guilty of driving under the influence should install a device on their car that would prevent the car from starting if they detected alcohol, legislators proposed last week.
The effort led by the member of the Cottie Petrie-Norris assembly, D-IRVINE, extends the law of California which requires locking initiation systems or alcohol for repeated delinquents of the dui and certain delinquents for the first times. This law should expire at the end of the year, and legislators want to extend it indefinitely and extend it to include any person convicted of a dui, including offenders for the first time.
“Driving driving is an avoidable tragedy that continues to devastate families and communities,” said Petrie-Norris.
For Senator Bob Archuleta, the bill of the bill, the effort is incredibly personal.
On the evening of December 23, Archuleta and his wife received a call. There had been an accident involving his granddaughter.
They got into the car and went to Victorville, where their daughter was, from their home to Los Angeles. Along the way, they cried. They prayed.
And then they got the news. Their granddaughter, Samantha Alex Robles Haun, had been killed in the accident the day before Christmas Eve. She was 30 years old, recently obtaining a master’s degree in social work at the Pacific Oaks College, said Archuleta.
“His life was designed to help the needy and help those who have problems and problems,” said Archuleta in an interview.
The driver of the other vehicle involved in the accident was arrested, his alcohol content in the blood at 0.22%, said Apple Valley police service. The legal limit of the alcohol level for driving in California is 0.08%. He supported a broken foot in the accident, police said.
In 2023, 1,089 people were killed in accidents involving alcohol, according to California Highway Patrol, and 27,306 people were injured. Drunk drivers were arrested some 30,500 times the same year in California, said Petrie-Norris.
And according to Lending Tree data, California represents eight of the 10 best cities with the highest dui rates for 1,000 drivers. Sacramento arrives at No. 2, followed by Los Angeles, San Jose, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Diego and Long Beach. Oakland is ranked 10th. (Raleigh, Caroline du Nord East N ° 1, and Charlotte is n ° 9.)
“We realized that we have to do something. California must intensify, “said Archuleta, whose district includes Buena Park.
“This bill will open doors and open their eyes that it could be your family,” he continued. “We have to implement this device in all the cars of the offenders of the time after their conviction.”
Petrie-Norris said the bill is an “opportunity to save lives, so that we stop these tragic and avoidable deaths before the car begins”.
“Driving driving is an epidemic in America,” said Petrie-Norris.
Petrie-Norris defended a similar effort last year, but that did not succeed.
This bill would have extended the sunset over the state -scale program which can impose an ignition locking device for those recognized as guilty of several DUIs and established a pilot program for only five counties, including Orange, to extend this requirement to the first offenders for six months.
The new bill indicates that the ignition locking systems would be installed as long as a legal order.
The previous bill was supported by the Automobile Club of Southern California, California Police Chiefs Association and mothers against drunkenness, among others. ACLU California Action has been opposed to ACLU California Action, California Public Defenders Association and Root & Rebound, an organization based in Oakland which helps people sail in life after imprisonment.
“It was difficult, without a doubt,” said Archuleta in an emotional speech in early January, thanking his colleagues for their prayers and their support after the death of his granddaughter. “But as you know, as a veteran, we had to continue to push.”
Honoring her granddaughter, Archuleta told the Senate that she was a proud member of her Rotc Air Force program, had learned to read and write music and play the piano and the trombone, and worked For five acres, a group based in Altadena which provides therapy for families for families in crisis and outpatients and in residential services to children.
“During his trip, Samantha found a deep development when he pleads and served communities at risk of children with foster family,” said Archuleta, noting that she specifically pleaded for young LGBTQ +. “Samantha was an angel in this regard. Samantha was a charming and wonderful person who was ready to make a career in the service of the unfortunate man. »»
“She had many plans for the future, and we know, without a doubt, she would have finished her work being a positive person in the difficult world that she was confronted,” said the senator.
Friday, the bill had not yet been assigned to a committee.
In other news
• A newly introduced bill would require users to verify the age and consent of any person represented in sexually explicit equipment before they can be downloaded from adult media sites. The bill would also oblige the downloader to provide sufficient contact details in the event of age and consent verification.
From the member of the Diane Dixon Assembly, R-Newport Beach, the bill is intended to reduce the sexually explicit videos or photos that are found online without the person represented in the knowledge or the consent of the material.
• Senator Catherine Blakespear, a democrat who represents the communities of the County of Orange Southern, is legislation that would require more detailed files to be kept for sales of firearms. The bill would also allow the Ministry of Justice of the State to revoke the licenses of firearms concessionaires for two years for various offenses, in particular by not keeping specific hours of work or by not allowing an inspection of the Doj of their premises.
“We know that California has law security laws, but the problem is to make sure everyone follows them,” said Blakespear. “Far too many firearms are heading in the hands of criminals. SB 15 improves reports and surveillance to limit trafficking in firearms. »»
• Senator Tom Umberg, D-Santa Ana, has launched an effort to prohibit a ban on counties, general cities and the State offering public funds for the campaigns.
The bill, also sponsored by Senator Ben Allen, D-El Segundo, and the member of the Alex Lee assembly, D-San Jose, poses the question before the voters in 2026. The legislators argue that the public funding of campaigns can reduce the influence of money in elections.
“Voters through the political spectrum know that the overwhelming campaign expenses can prevent major candidates from going through the electoral process,” said Allen. “This bill creates a path by allowing public financing systems which reduce dependence on specific interests and to amplify the votes of the basic community.”
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