Senate BillPassed first houseVehicle
SB 953: Driving record: points: vehicular manslaughter.
What SB 953 does, verified August 15, 2026
The 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. This is similar to the existing law for convictions of vehicular manslaughter, but applies to dismissals as well. The bill does not change the existing law for convictions of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. A judge in the superior court has the authority to offer diversion to a defendant in a misdemeanor case, and if the defendant complies with the terms and conditions, the action against them is dismissed.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
✓In CommitteeComplete
✓First Chamber FloorComplete
4Second ChamberCurrent
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: August 13 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. (2026-08-13)Alert me
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| Aug. 13, 2026 | August 13 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. |
| Aug. 05, 2026 | August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file. |
| Jun. 30, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (June 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jun. 09, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 9). Re-referred to Com. on TRANS. |
| Jun. 09, 2026 | Coauthors revised. |
Latest bill textAmended version, April 6, 2026 · 748 words
| 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.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 12810 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:12810.
(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.
Text of SB 953 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions