Vehicles: driving under the influence: repeat offenders.

(1) Existing law requires, if a person is convicted of a specified driving-under-the-influence (DUI) offense and the offense occurred within 10 years of 2, or 3 or more prior specified DUI offenses that resulted in a conviction, that the person be punished by enhanced penalties, and that the person's privilege to operate a motor vehicle be revoked by the Department of Motor Vehicles for a period of 2, 3, 4, or 5 years, as applicable. This bill would require the department to permanently revoke the driver's license of a person who was previously convicted of 3 or more specified DUI offenses. The bill would prohibit a person whose driver's license is permanently revoked by the department under these provisions from registering a vehicle in this state. Because a person who violates this prohibition is guilty of a crime, this bill would create a new crime, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. The bill would also authorize a person who had only 3 convictions of a DUI offense, and whose driver's license was permanently revoked by the department to petition the court for the reinstatement of his or her privilege to drive after a period of 5 years from the date of his or her last conviction if the person successfully passes a written test and driving test for the license classification and successfully completes a specified alcohol treatment program. The bill would require the court to consider 5 specified factors in determinating whether to order the department to reinstate the person's license. (2) 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.