TODAY WE ARE STARTING A NEW YEAR AND WE HAVE SOME NEW LAWS IN CALIFORNIA. HERE’S A LIVE LOOK AT I-5 IN SACRAMENTO TONIGHT WHERE WE HAVE SOME NEW RULES FOR THE ROAD. OBVIOUSLY, WE DO FEEL THIS WILL SAVE LIVES AND KCRA 3’S PEYTON HEADLEE IS LIVE IN SACRAMENTO WITH THE LAWS AND HOW THEY IMPACT DRIVERS. PAYTON. YEAH. HEY. WELL ONE OF THEM IS LOOKING TO CREATE MORE PROTECTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHOSE CAR MAY HAVE BEEN BROKEN DOWN OR DISABLED ON THE SIDE OF ROADWAYS. AND THE OTHER ONE CREATES STRICTER PENALTIES FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER WITH DUI. BOTH OF THEM LOOK TO MAKE THE ROADS SAFER. THIS IS THE MONTANO FAMILY. FAMILIES VICTIMIZED BY DRUNK DRIVERS. DRUNK DRIVER HIT THEIR CAR AND KILLED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM EXCEPT THE BABY. JULIAN, ARE ONES WHO RHONDA CAMPBELL HOLDS CLOSE TO HER HEART. THIS IS ANGEL RENTERIA TOOK HER DOG OUT FOR A WALK ONE NIGHT WHEN SHE WAS STRUCK BY A DRUNK DRIVER AND LEFT TO DIE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAMPBELL IS THE VICTIM SERVICES MANAGER FOR MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING, AND TODAY THIS IS ANGEL’S LIFE. ANGEL’S IN A WHEELCHAIR. SHE’S NONVERBAL. SHE CAN’T WALK. STORIES LIKE THESE ARE WHY SHE IS CONSTANTLY PUSHING FOR HARSHER, IMPAIRED DRIVING LEGISLATION. A NEW STATE LAW THAT EXTENDS THE PROBATION PERIOD FOR VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER WITH DUI FROM TWO YEARS TO 3 TO 5. SHE SAYS, IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO BE A REMEDY, BUT WHAT IT DOES DO IS EXTEND THE PERIOD OF ACCOUNTABILITY. IN MY OPINION. ANOTHER MOVE TO MAKE THE ROAD SAFER AND EXPANSION OF THE STATE’S SLOW DOWN. MOVE OVER LAW, ONE THAT USED TO BE LIMITED TO FIRST RESPONDERS, TOW TRUCKS AND ROADSIDE MAINTENANCE CREWS. IT ACTUALLY MAKES IT SO YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN OR MOVE OVER. FOR ANYBODY BROKEN DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THAT INCLUDES YOU OR ME AND OUR PERSONAL CAR. DOUG JOHNSON WITH TRIPLE A SAYS ANYONE WHO DOESN’T CHANGE LANES OR SLOW DOWN COULD FACE FINES OF UP TO $1,000. CALIFORNIA IS ACTUALLY SECOND ONLY TO TEXAS, AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED OUTSIDE OF DISABLED VEHICLES. SO IT IS A REALLY BIG PROBLEM IN OUR STATE, AND WE ARE HOPING THAT THIS WILL HELP. BOTH LAWS, HOPING TO SAVE LIVES ON CALIFORNIA ROADS. ANYTHING THE LAW CAN DO TO ADD A LITTLE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY TO ME IS POSITIVE. AND SINCE 2013, TRIPLE A SAYS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED WHILE OUTSIDE OF THEIR DISABLED VEHICLES HAS GROWN 60%. THEY’RE HOPING THAT THIS LAW CAN HELP TO LOWER THAT NUMBER. WE’RE LIVE IN SACRAMENTO, PEYTON HEADLEE KCRA THREE NEWS. PEYTON, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
New California laws aim to improve road safety
California introduces new laws to enhance road safety, including stricter penalties for DUI-related vehicular manslaughter and expanded protections for roadside vehicles.
Updated: 10:21 PM PST Jan 1, 2026
California has introduced new laws to improve road safety, including extending the probation period for DUI-related vehicular manslaughter and expanding protections for vehicles stopped on the roadside.Rhonda Campbell, the victim services manager for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, emphasized the importance of harsher impaired-driving legislation.”This is certainly not going to be a remedy. But what it does do is extend the period of accountability, in my opinion,” Campbell said. The new state law extends the probation period for a person convicted of vehicular manslaughter or gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated from two years to three to five years.Additionally, the state’s Slow Down, Move Over law has been expanded to require drivers to slow down or move over for any vehicle stopped on the side of the road, not just first responders, tow trucks, and roadside maintenance crews. Doug Johnson from AAA explained that failing to comply could result in up to $1,000 in fines.”California is actually second only to Texas in the number of people killed outside of disabled vehicles. So it is a really big problem in our state and we are hoping that this will help,” Johnson said. Since 2013, AAA reports a 60% increase in the number of people killed outside of disabled vehicles in California, and they hope these changes will reduce that number. “Anything the law can do to add a little more accountability to me is positive,” Campbell added, as both laws aim to save lives on California roads.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
California has introduced new laws to improve road safety, including extending the probation period for DUI-related vehicular manslaughter and expanding protections for vehicles stopped on the roadside.
Rhonda Campbell, the victim services manager for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, emphasized the importance of harsher impaired-driving legislation.
“This is certainly not going to be a remedy. But what it does do is extend the period of accountability, in my opinion,” Campbell said.
The new state law extends the probation period for a person convicted of vehicular manslaughter or gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated from two years to three to five years.
Additionally, the state’s Slow Down, Move Over law has been expanded to require drivers to slow down or move over for any vehicle stopped on the side of the road, not just first responders, tow trucks, and roadside maintenance crews.
Doug Johnson from AAA explained that failing to comply could result in up to $1,000 in fines.
“California is actually second only to Texas in the number of people killed outside of disabled vehicles. So it is a really big problem in our state and we are hoping that this will help,” Johnson said.
Since 2013, AAA reports a 60% increase in the number of people killed outside of disabled vehicles in California, and they hope these changes will reduce that number.
“Anything the law can do to add a little more accountability to me is positive,” Campbell added, as both laws aim to save lives on California roads.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel