Vehicles: license suspension and revocation: punishment.

Under existing law, it is unlawful for a person, while driving a vehicle with a license suspended or revoked for conviction of a violation of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs to do an act forbidden by law or neglect a duty imposed by law in the driving of the vehicle, which act or neglect proximately causes bodily injury to a person other than the driver. Conviction for a first violation of this provision is punishable by imprisonment in county jail for not less than 10 days or more than 6 months and by a fine of not less than $300 or more than $1,000, or if the offense occurred within 5 years of a prior offense resulting in conviction of, among other things, driving under the influence or reckless driving, the offense is punishable by imprisonment in county jail for not less than 30 days or more than one year and by a fine of not less than $500 or more than $2,000, in each case except if the person has been designated a habitual traffic offender, as specified. This bill would additionally make it unlawful for a person, while driving a vehicle with a license that has been suspended or revoked for reckless driving resulting in injury to a person other than the driver, as specified, to do an act forbidden by law or neglect a duty imposed by law in the driving of the vehicle, which act or neglect proximately causes bodily injury to a person other than the driver. The bill would require a person convicted under these provisions to serve a specified minimum term of imprisonment in the county jail. The bill would make additional conforming changes. By expanding the punishment for an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.