SB953 - Driving record: points: vehicular manslaughter.

Amended IN Senate April 06, 2026 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 953 Introduced by Senator Niello (Coauthor: Senator Archuleta) February 02, 2026 An act to amend Section 12810 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 953, as amended, Niello. Driving record: points: vehicular manslaughter. Existing law defines vehicular manslaughter as, among other things, driving a vehicle in the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, or driving a vehicle in the commission of a lawful act that might produce death, in an unlawful manner, that results in the unlawful killing of a human being without malice. Under existing law, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, as defined, is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year or by imprisonment in the state prison for 2, 4, or 6 years, and vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year. Existing law authorizes a judge in the superior court in which a misdemeanor is being prosecuted to offer diversion to a defendant, and requires the judge, at the end of the diversion period and if the defendant has complied with the imposed terms and conditions, to dismiss the action against the defendant. Existing law imposes 2 violation points against a driver’s record for purposes of the suspension or revocation of the privilege to drive if a driver is convicted of vehicular manslaughter. This bill would impose 2 violation points against a driver’s record for a misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter violation that was dismissed by a judge upon the completion of diversion. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 12810 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read: 12810. In When determining the violation point count, the following shall apply: (a) A conviction of failure to stop in the event of an accident in violation of Section 20001 or 20002 shall be given a value of two points. (b) A conviction of a violation of Section 23152 or 23153 shall be given a value of two points. (c) A conviction of reckless driving shall be given a value of two points. (d) (1) A conviction of a violation of subdivision (b) of Section 191.5 or subdivision (c) of Section 192 of the Penal Code, or of Section 2800.2 or 2800.3, subdivision (b) of Section 21651, subdivision (b) of Section 22348, subdivision (a) or (c) of Section 23109, Section 23109.1, or Section 31602 of this code, shall be given a value of two points. (2) A violation of subdivision (c) of Section 192 of the Penal Code in which the case was dismissed pursuant to Section 1001.95 of the Penal Code shall be given a value of two points. (3) A conviction of a violation of subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 23140 shall be given a value of two points. (e) A conviction of a violation of Section 14601, 14601.1, 14601.2, 14601.3, or 14601.5 shall be given a value of two points. (f) Except as provided in subdivision (i), any other traffic conviction involving the safe operation of a motor vehicle upon the highway shall be given a value of one point. (g) A traffic accident in which the operator is deemed by the department to be responsible shall be given a value of one point. (h) A conviction of a violation of Section 27360 or 27360.5 shall be given a value of one point. (i) (1) A violation of paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 40001 shall not result in a violation point count being given to the driver if the driver is not the owner of the vehicle. (2) A conviction of a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 12814.6, subdivision (a) of Section 21116, Section 21207.5, 21708, 21710, 21716, 23120, 24800, or 26707 shall not be given a violation point count. (3) A violation of subdivision (d) of Section 21712 shall not result in a violation point count. (4) A violation of Section 23136 shall not result in a violation point count. (5) A violation of Section 38301, 38301.3, 38301.5, 38304.1, or 38504.1 shall not result in a violation point count. (j) A conviction for only one violation arising from one occasion of arrest or citation shall be counted in determining the violation point count for the purposes of this section.