In recent years, California has seen a troubling rise in drunk driving incidents, with six of the top ten cities for such offenses located in the state. This surge has sparked concern, particularly from the Los Angeles Police Union, which attributes the increase to lawmakers’ decisions to cut funding and adopt lenient crime policies.
A pointed statement from the police union criticized left-leaning politicians following an incident where three LAPD officers were hospitalized after a suspected drunk driving chase in the San Fernando Valley on Saturday night.
The union emphasized, “Drunk driving is not a victimless crime. When Los Angeles politicians like Councilmember Nitya Raman and Eunice Hernandez continue to vote for reduced police presence and less enforcement of DUI laws in the name of criminal justice reform, they only jeopardize the safety of all Angelenos,” they stated.
Fortunately, the injured officers recovered without serious harm, unlike some families who have faced devastating losses.
Jennifer Levi is one such individual who understands this tragedy intimately. Her son, Brown, who was just 18 and on the brink of a promising tennis career at the University of Virginia, was killed by a repeat drunk driver. She now grapples with the reality that, due to laws on non-violent crimes and good behavior, offenders often avoid significant jail time and can quickly find themselves driving again.
“It feels like every day we hear of fatalities from drunk driving,” Levi shared, reflecting on her son’s death caused by Genia Lesha Belt, 33, who struck him on his way home.
Attempts to contact Councilmembers Raman and Hernandez for their thoughts went unanswered.
Levi has joined forces with other victims, including Democratic state Senator Bob Archuleta, advocating for stricter drunk driving laws in California. “My eldest granddaughter passed away from a head-on collision with a drunk driver in 2024,” Archuleta’s office communicated.
It’s worth noting that under current law, causing great bodily harm while intoxicated may be classified as a violent crime, yet killing someone in a DUI incident does not carry the same designation.
Alison Layman is pushing back against another lenient law—Assembly Bill 3234—which now includes vehicular manslaughter in its misdemeanor diversion program, a policy that she argues has allowed offenders to face lighter penalties. Layman’s own 23-year-old son was killed by a drunk driver.
“Judges seem to be handing out leniency with ease,” Layman said of a system that permits penalties less severe than what one might receive for a speeding ticket.
Drunk driving remains a critical issue. San Jose has a rate of 3.68 drunk drivers per 1,000, ranking it second for the worst city in the U.S., followed by Sacramento. Fresno sits at fifth, with 3.31, and Long Beach, Bakersfield, and Oakland follow closely behind.
Reflecting on her son’s bright future, Levi remarked, “He was determined to play tennis at the University of Virginia. His passing was incomprehensible to us; it’s heartbreaking that our state has reached this level of crisis.”
The number of deaths from alcohol-related accidents in the state is projected to surpass 1,300 in 2023, marking a significant increase of over 50% in the last decade. Thousands more have suffered injuries, many from repeat offenders.
“What truly shocked me was how little time someone spends in prison for causing a death,” Levi stated. “Now, if you’re drunk and injure someone, you’re likely to face heavier consequences than if you actually take someone’s life. Brown’s death certificate labels it an accident; it wasn’t an accident.”
While Levi’s journey continues, recent cases of vehicular manslaughter have seen early releases under puzzling circumstances. A woman who caused the death of a 21-year-old cyclist in her fourth distracted driving incident might be released early due to good behavior after only a brief term.
“With the way credit works, you can reduce your time for non-violent felonies by up to 50%, but only up to 15% for violent felonies,” explained a spokesperson for Archuleta.
In light of these issues, Archuleta has introduced Senate Bill 907, aiming to toughen DUI enforcement and sentencing. This bill would classify gross negligence and drunk driving manslaughter as felonies, ensuring that those who cause fatalities face more severe consequences.
Another significant aspect of the bill is “Brown’s Law,” which mandates that a Watson Warning be issued in hit-and-run cases involving drunk drivers. If a driver under the influence kills someone after receiving this warning, they face charges of second-degree murder.
Levi pointed out that the Watson Warning isn’t consistently enforced across the state. “The woman who killed our son had a history of DUI but ended up taking a plea deal for a misdemeanor, without ever being issued a Watson Warning.”
While the bill has garnered bipartisan support, concerns linger, particularly regarding Assembly Bill 3234’s expansion of the misdemeanor diversion program. Layman continues to rally for changes following her son Connor’s death from distracted driving.
“We’re seeing a scenario where speeding tickets can carry harsher repercussions than vehicular manslaughter. It feels like this is all about reducing prison populations,” Layman expressed.
It appears that some individuals charged with vehicular manslaughter have managed to avoid repercussions on their driving records, all thanks to the diversion program.
Connor, a talented pianist, was killed in Elk Grove when a motorcyclist swerved into traffic. “The driver sat idle in the car, while others rushed to aid him,” Layman recounted, adding that the driver was charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter and could potentially benefit from the diversion program.
“It feels like an ongoing nightmare, waiting for this to unfold in court,” Layman remarked.
She’s currently driven to raise awareness against the diversion program for vehicular manslaughter charges and has even launched a petition that has drawn approximately 13,000 signatures urging for legal reforms.
With a history of hazardous roads, California’s criminal justice system is criticized for seemingly prioritizing offenders over victims, according to Layman.
While no amount of justice can bring back their children, both Layman and Levi are resolutely working to ensure safer roads for the future.
“The woman who killed our son had a suspended license,” Levi emphasized. “Although we can never recover our son, our mission is to drive change in California going forward.”
