SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 366 into law, solidifying California’s renewed commitment to ending the state’s deadly drunk-driving crisis. AB 366, by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine), extends California’s current ignition interlock device (IID) program, which contains a loophole by only applying to drivers convicted of two or more DUIs. However, the commitment from Governor Newsom to return next year and close that loophole by expanding the program to apply to all DUI offenders is a major breakthrough that road-safety advocates, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), have been fighting for 17 years.
“Drunk driving is a crime, there should be no “first time free pass”. Accountability begins with the first conviction, before offenders become repeat threats. I am deeply grateful to Governor Newsom for his leadership and for recognizing that California’s current DUI system is failing too many families,” said Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris. “This bill is about accountability and prevention, and about making sure no family has to experience another avoidable tragedy. I am also extremely grateful to my legislative colleagues, who overwhelmingly supported the policy, and know we will work with the Governor to find the simple funding solutions that will save thousands of lives.”
Early versions of AB 366 closed the loopholes that weakened California’s all-offender ignition-interlock program and passed the Assembly and Senate policy committees with overwhelming bipartisan support, marking the first major legislative progress on this issue in 17 years of advocacy for ignition-interlock reform.
The Senate Appropriations Committee later stripped the bill down in response to DMV lobbying over funding pressure. Despite that setback, the Governor’s Office and Assemblymember Petrie-Norris have committed to work together to resolve funding challenges through partnerships with ignition-interlock manufacturers, use of existing federal safety funds, and streamlining of current program operations.
The Facts
- 1,479 Californians died in drunk-driving crashes in 2023, a 53 percent increase over the past decade (NHTSA).
- Drunk driving accounts for nearly one-third of all traffic deaths statewide.
- More than 30 states already require ignition interlocks for all DUI offenders, and those states have seen a 16 percent drop in repeat offenses (MADD).
- Ignition interlocks have prevented over 5 million drunk-driving attempts nationwide in the past 12 years (MADD).
- Drunk driving crashes cost the United States over $120 billion each year.
- Interlocks are offender funded, not taxpayer funded.
- Interlock devices cut recidivism by up to 70% reducing repeat arrests and prosecutions.
- A CalMatters investigation found that nearly 40 percent of drivers charged with vehicular manslaughter since 2019 still held valid licenses, and in some cases the DMV reissued licenses within a year of fatal crashes, even for drivers with multiple prior DUIs or serious traffic histories. (CalMatters, License to Kill, 2025)
Voices for Accountability
Patricia Rillera, California State Executive Director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), called the signing “a long-awaited moment of hope.”
“This victory belongs to the families who have lost loved ones and to every Californian who deserves to come home safely,” said Rillera. “Governor Newsom’s decision to sign AB 366 and his commitment to build a true all-offender ignition-interlock program sends a clear message that California is serious about accountability and prevention. Ignition interlocks have stopped more than three million drunk-driving attempts nationwide, but statistics mean little to the parents, spouses, and children left behind. This law honors them by turning loss into action and ensuring that every conviction results in real protection for the public.”
Jake Johnson, representing the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, said the bill reflects what officers witness every day.
“Our officers are the first to arrive at these crashes, and too often, we’re the ones telling families that their loved one isn’t coming home,” said [Last Name]. “These deaths are preventable. Every day, we see the same pattern: people who should never have been back behind the wheel. Strengthening the ignition-interlock program means fewer funerals, fewer roadside memorials, and safer roads for everyone.”
Senator Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera), a grandfather who lost his granddaughter to a drunk driver in December 2024 and a long-time champion of DUI reform, said his fight is deeply personal.
“One way or another, we are going to fix this program,” Archuleta said. “If you are convicted of drunk driving in California, you will have an ignition interlock device in your car. Period. This is about saving lives, protecting families, and ensuring that no one else endures the pain my family and so many others have faced.”
California Safe Roads Coalition Coalition members include: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), California Association of Highway Patrolmen (CAHP), AAA Northern and Southern California, California Police Chiefs Association, American Academy of Surgeons of California - Southern CA, Northern CA and San Diego Chapters, the Braun Levi family, Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe, Sacramento County District Attorney Thein Ho, Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie A. Bridgett, Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig, California Professional Firefighters, Peace Officers Research Association of California, and local victims’ families across the state.