1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support legislation that would permanently ban individuals convicted of DUI felonies from driving and require convicted felons with other offenses to use speed limiters if they retain driving privileges. California's approach to dangerous drivers has failed catastrophically. More than 20,000 people died on California roads from 2019 to early 2024. Alcohol-related roadway deaths in California have increased by more than 50% in the past decade, an increase more than twice as steep as the rest of the country. Despite this mounting death toll, state leaders have shown little willingness to address the crisis. The CalMatters investigation "License to Kill" exposes how California routinely allows dangerous drivers with horrifying histories to continue operating vehicles. The state permits drivers with extensive criminal driving records to remain on the roads, and too often these drivers go on to kill. Some individuals with 15 DUIs are still driving. Many continue driving even after causing fatalities, and some kill again. In some cases, the DMV was never even notified when drivers were convicted of killing with their cars. This represents a systemic failure that prioritizes the convenience of dangerous drivers over the lives of innocent Californians. Our legal system can impose harsher penalties for speeding tickets than for killing someone with a car. This is unconscionable. A permanent driving ban for DUI felons is justified because these individuals have demonstrated through their criminal convictions that they cannot be trusted with the privilege of driving. For other convicted felons who retain driving privileges, mandatory speed limiters would provide a reasonable safeguard that protects public safety while allowing them to maintain some mobility. I urge you to champion legislation that implements these two critical reforms. California families deserve roads where dangerous drivers are actually removed, not given endless chances to kill again.