Crime & Safety

Repeat DUIs Could Mean 10-Year License Suspension

Three strikes and you could be out for a decade, owing to a new law that took effect at the start of 2012.

From Bay City News Service

One of  means that Californians convicted of DUI three or more times could have their license suspended for up to 10 years.

Assemblyman Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, authored the bill that became law on Jan. 1, 2012.

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"Unless you injure or kill someone, your license could only be suspended for three years," Hill said of existing laws. Hill found that there were more than 300,000 DUI offenders with three or more convictions that were allowed to drive on California roadways.

"I thought, 'This is crazy,'" Hill said. The new law allows a judge to punish a repeat DUI offender with a suspension of up to 10 years after a third conviction.

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According to Hill's office, if every judge utilized the 10-year license revocation in the new law, more than 10,000 repeat DUI offenders could be taken off the state's roadways every year.

Hill said he hopes the new law will help improve the safety on the roads for all Californians.

What do you think of the new DUI law? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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