Vehicles: driving under the influence: driving automation.
AB 2502
California Bills
20250AB__250298AMD INTRODUCED 2026-02-20 AMENDED_SENATE 2026-07-02 2025 AB AMD Introduced by Assembly Member Pellerin (Coauthor: Assembly Member Alanis) LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Pellerin COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Alanis
An act to add
Section 23152.1 to the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. vehicles Vehicles: driving under the influence: driving automation. Existing law makes it unlawful for a person who has 0.08% or more, by weight, of alcohol in their blood to drive a vehicle or to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs and prescribes certain penalties depending on additional facts, such as whether the driving resulted in an injury to another. Existing decisional law holds that the slight volitional movement of the vehicle is sufficient for a driving under the influence violation.
This bill would state that for the purposes of a driving under the influence violation, “drive” includes the volitional movement of a vehicle with driver support features engaged that require a person to supervise the vehicle in order to steer, brake, or accelerate, as needed to maintain safety. To the extent that this bill would expand the scope of a crime, it 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. MAJORITY NO YES YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION
Section 23152.1 is added to the Vehicle Code , to read: 23152.1. For the purposes of
Section 191.5 of the Penal Code, and
Section 23103, as specified in
Section 23103.5, 23152, or 23153, “drive” includes the volitional movement of a vehicle with driver support features engaged that require a person to supervise the vehicle in order to steer, brake, or accelerate, as needed to maintain safety. This includes driver support features that require constant supervision and those that require a person to take direct control of the vehicle upon the request of the driver support feature.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section of
Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of