Driving under the influence: alcoholic beverages.

Existing law makes it a crime to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and sets forth the penalties for a violation of these provisions. Under existing law, if a person is convicted of a driving under the influence violation and the offense occurs within 10 years of 2 or more separate driving under the influence violations that resulted in convictions, the offense is subject to escalating fines, suspensions, and other sanctions.

This bill would require a court, when sentencing an individual to a term of imprisonment to be served in state prison for a 3rd driving under the influence offense within a 10-year period to prohibit the individual from purchasing alcoholic beverages for life. The bill would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue an identification card or driver's license with an appropriate designation on the face upon the receipt of an abstract of the record of a court. The bill would authorize a licensee to refuse to sell alcoholic beverages to an individual who provides the licensee with an identification card or driver's license with such a designation.

To the extent it would require a higher level of service from court staff who are county employees, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.