New laws in 2026 aim to improve safety for all road users
On December 26, 2025 the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced a series of new transportation safety laws signed by Governor Newsom that will take effect on January 1, 2026. The below laws aim to improve safety for all road users in communities throughout California.
Ignition Interlock Devices — AB 366 (Petrie-Norris)
Extends the Statewide Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Pilot Program for specified driving-under-the-influence (DUI) offenders to January 1, 2033.
Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated — AB 1087 (Patterson)
Increases the term of probation from two years to between three and five years for a person convicted of vehicular manslaughter or gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
School Zone Speed Limit — AB 382 (Berman)
Lowers the school zone speed limit from 25 miles per hour to 20 miles per hour beginning January 1, 2031, to help reduce speeding and save lives.
“Slow Down, Move Over” — AB 390 (Wilson)
Expands the requirement that a driver approaching a stationary vehicle slow down and move over to include any stationary vehicles, including marked highway maintenance vehicles and those displaying flashing hazard lights or another warning device.
Automated Traffic Enforcement System Programs — SB 720 (Ashby)
Allows local governments to use an alternative automated camera program to enforce red light violations. Specifies that violations recorded by an automated traffic enforcement system are subject only to civil penalties.
License Plate Obstruction or Alteration — AB 1085 (Stefani)
Makes it an infraction with a fine of $1,000 to manufacture in California a product or device that obscures, or is intended to obscure or interfere with the visual or electronic reading of a license plate, addressing the use of illegal license plate covers that enable toll evasion and other criminal activity.
Abandoned Recreational Vehicles — AB 630 (Mark González)
Authorizes Alameda and Los Angeles Counties, until January 1, 2030, to remove and dispose of an abandoned recreational vehicle (RV) if it is estimated to have a value of $4,000 or less and a public agency has verified that it is inoperable prior to removal.
Autonomous Vehicle Marker Lamps — SB 480 (Archuleta)
Allows an autonomous vehicle (AV) to be equipped with automated driving system (ADS) marker lamps. The lamps notify other drivers, pedestrians and law enforcement when an AV’s ADS is activated.
Off Highway Electric Motorcycles — SB 586 (Jones)
Classifies an “off-highway electric motorcycle” or “eMoto” as an off-highway motor vehicle (OHV), thereby requiring them to follow OHV rules, including displaying a DMV-issued ID plate or placard.