Sacramento, CA – A new bill making its way through Sacramento aims to crack down on the sale of alcohol to repeat drunk drivers.
Authored by Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom (D-Tracy), AB 1605, would allow judges to place a “no alcohol sale” notice directly on the driver’s licenses or Real IDs of serious and repeat DUI offenders.
People convicted of serious or repeat DUI offenses would be barred from purchasing alcohol. The restriction would appear on their identification, requiring stores, bars, and restaurants to refuse alcohol sales.
According to the California DUI Management Information System, more than 110,000 DUI arrests were made statewide in 2021, and about one in four convicted offenders had at least one prior DUI conviction.
“Repeated DUIs signal a dangerous pattern that puts lives at risk. When warning signs are this clear, intervention is necessary to protect the public. Judges must have the ability to limit access to alcohol and prevent the next tragedy.”
– Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom
The proposal follows a similar law recently enacted in Utah, where certain DUI offenders receive licenses marked with a “no alcohol sale” notice. California’s approach would give judges discretion to apply the restriction based on the seriousness of the offense and a person’s history.
