Democratic lawmakers stall DUI ignition-interlock bill amid rising crash deaths

In the California Senate, a bill that would have mandated ignition interlock devices for anyone convicted of driving under the influence was gutted by the Senate Appropriations Committee, which removed the key safety provision. The committee, chaired by Senator Sabrina Cervantes, added amendments that effectively killed the interlock requirement, and the rationale for the change remains unclear even to the bill’s sponsor.

California is one of only six states with weak interlock laws, lagging behind 31 states and Washington, D.C. A 2025 CalMatters analysis found that drivers with up to six DUI convictions can regain their licenses, contributing to a 55% increase in DUI-related crash deaths over the past decade and an annual toll of roughly 1,300 fatalities. Advocates argue that the state’s permissive approach to repeat offenders fuels the crisis, while Democratic leaders acknowledge the problem but have taken no substantive action.