CA SB 1198
in committeeVehicles: reckless driving: impoundment.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · upper
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Quick answers
Did CA SB 1198 pass?
Not yet. CA SB 1198 is in committee and has not come to a final vote. Latest recorded action (2026-08-13): August 13 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
What is CA SB 1198 about?
Under existing law, a court is authorized to suspend the driving privilege of a licensed driver convicted of a violation relating to the speed of vehicles or reckless driving for a period not to exceed 30 days for a first conviction, for a period not to exceed 60 days upon a 2nd conviction, and for a period not to exceed 6 months upon a 3rd or any subsequent conviction. This bill would, commencing on January 1, 2028, authorize a court, for a conviction of reckless driving, to suspend the driving privilege for a period not to exceed 60 days, and for a period of not less than 30 days and not to exceed 6 months when the offense occurred within 10 years of a separate reckless driving violation. The bill would require a court to suspend the driving privilege for a period of not less than 90 days and not to exceed one year if the offense occurred within 10 years of 2 or more separate reckless driving violations. Existing law authorizes a peace officer to arrest a person and seize the motor vehicle of the person if a peace officer determines that the person was engaged in a motor vehicle speed contest, reckless driving, or an exhibition of speed on a highway or in an offstreet parking facility. Existing law allows a vehicle seized under this provision to be impounded for up to 30 days. Existing law requires an impounding agency to release a motor vehicle to the registered owner or their agent prior to the conclusion of the impoundment period if, among other reasons, the person alleged to have been engaged in the motor vehicle speed contest was not authorized by the registered owner to operate the motor vehicle at the time of the commission of the offense, or if the registered owner was neither the driver nor a passenger of the motor vehicle or was unaware that the driver was using the motor vehicle to engage in the prohibited activities. If an impounding agency releases a motor vehicle to the registered owner or agent prior to the conclusion of the impoundment period, this bill would require the registered owner to provide evidence that the driver did not have authorization from the registered owner to operate the motor vehicle, as specified, or require the registered owner to submit a written, signed statement attesting that the registered owner was unaware that the driver was using the vehicle to engage in reckless driving. The bill would allow a registered owner or their agent to obtain their vehicle prior to the conclusion of the impoundment period based on the reason that the registered owner was not the driver or passenger of the motor vehicle or was unaware that the driver was engaging in reckless driving 3 times. The bill would prohibit a registered owner from using this reason to obtain the motor vehicle prior to the conclusion of the impoundment period for a 4th or any subsequent arrest that involves the same driver and vehicle. Existing law requires an impounding agency to release an impounded vehicle before the conclusion of the impound period if the charges against the driver are dismissed. This bill would prohibit the registered owner or driver of the vehicle from being charged any towing or storage fees if the vehicle is released for this reason.
Who sponsors CA SB 1198?
Menjivar is the primary sponsor of CA SB 1198, joined by 6 cosponsors.
Description
Under existing law, a court is authorized to suspend the driving privilege of a licensed driver convicted of a violation relating to the speed of vehicles or reckless driving for a period not to exceed 30 days for a first conviction, for a period not to exceed 60 days upon a 2nd conviction, and for a period not to exceed 6 months upon a 3rd or any subsequent conviction. This bill would, commencing on January 1, 2028, authorize a court, for a conviction of reckless driving, to suspend the driving privilege for a period not to exceed 60 days, and for a period of not less than 30 days and not to exceed 6 months when the offense occurred within 10 years of a separate reckless driving violation. The bill would require a court to suspend the driving privilege for a period of not less than 90 days and not to exceed one year if the offense occurred within 10 years of 2 or more separate reckless driving violations. Existing law authorizes a peace officer to arrest a person and seize the motor vehicle of the person if a peace officer determines that the person was engaged in a motor vehicle speed contest, reckless driving, or an exhibition of speed on a highway or in an offstreet parking facility. Existing law allows a vehicle seized under this provision to be impounded for up to 30 days. Existing law requires an impounding agency to release a motor vehicle to the registered owner or their agent prior to the conclusion of the impoundment period if, among other reasons, the person alleged to have been engaged in the motor vehicle speed contest was not authorized by the registered owner to operate the motor vehicle at the time of the commission of the offense, or if the registered owner was neither the driver nor a passenger of the motor vehicle or was unaware that the driver was using the motor vehicle to engage in the prohibited activities. If an impounding agency releases a motor vehicle to the registered owner or agent prior to the conclusion of the impoundment period, this bill would require the registered owner to provide evidence that the driver did not have authorization from the registered owner to operate the motor vehicle, as specified, or require the registered owner to submit a written, signed statement attesting that the registered owner was unaware that the driver was using the vehicle to engage in reckless driving. The bill would allow a registered owner or their agent to obtain their vehicle prior to the conclusion of the impoundment period based on the reason that the registered owner was not the driver or passenger of the motor vehicle or was unaware that the driver was engaging in reckless driving 3 times. The bill would prohibit a registered owner from using this reason to obtain the motor vehicle prior to the conclusion of the impoundment period for a 4th or any subsequent arrest that involves the same driver and vehicle. Existing law requires an impounding agency to release an impounded vehicle before the conclusion of the impound period if the charges against the driver are dismissed. This bill would prohibit the registered owner or driver of the vehicle from being charged any towing or storage fees if the vehicle is released for this reason.
- Introduced
- 2026-02-19
- Latest action
- 2026-08-13 — August 13 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- Menjivarauthor
- Archuletacoauthor
- Richardsoncoauthor
- Sterncoauthor
- Daviescoauthor
- Petrie-Norriscoauthor
- Schultzcoauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-08-13
August 13 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2026-08-05
August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
2026-07-01
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-06-30
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (June 29).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2026-06-24
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-06-23
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 23).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2026-06-01
Referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and TRANS.
referral-committee
2026-05-22
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
reading-1
2026-05-22
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 32. Noes 0. Page 4415.) Ordered to the Assembly.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-05-18
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-05-14
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2026-05-14
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 4268.) (May 14).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2026-05-08
Set for hearing May 14.
2026-04-13
April 13 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-10
Set for hearing April 13.
2026-03-25
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-03-24
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 3661.) (March 24).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2026-03-10
Set for hearing March 24.
2026-03-04
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
referral-committee
2026-02-20
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22.
2026-02-19
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
introduction,reading-1,referral-committee
Versions
Documents
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Votes
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2026-03-24 · pass · 6-0
Member-level votes (6)
- Wiener: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Cortese: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Arreguín: yes
Placed on suspense file
2026-04-13 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Dahle: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Cervantes: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Grayson: yes
Do pass as amended
2026-05-14 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Cervantes: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Grayson: yes
3rd Reading SB1198 Menjivar et al.
2026-05-22 · pass · 32-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Rubio: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Cortese: yes
- McNerney: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Weber Pierson: yes
- Strickland: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Cervantes: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Blakespear: yes
- Archuleta: yes
- Arreguín: yes
- Valladares: yes
- Reyes: yes
- Ashby: yes
- Jones: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Limón: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Grove: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Choi: yes
- Richardson: yes
- McGuire: yes
- Laird: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Ochoa Bogh: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Becker: other
- Hurtado: other
- Smallwood-Cuevas: other
- Padilla: other
- Alvarado-Gil: other
- Stern: other
- Niello: other
- Allen: other
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Transportation]
2026-06-23 · pass · 9-0
Member-level votes (9)
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Lackey: yes
- Ramos: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- Nguyen: yes
- Haney: yes
- Alanis: yes
- Schultz: yes
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2026-06-29 · pass · 15-0
Member-level votes (16)
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Ahrens: yes
- Papan: yes
- Macedo: yes
- Ransom: yes
- Wilson: yes
- Hart: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- Rogers: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Carrillo: yes
- Ward: yes
- Davies: yes
- Hoover: yes
- Lackey: other
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T01:34:27.960412Z
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