The Sacramento Bee

By Torey Van Oot

Assemblyman Jerry Hill was shocked when he read reports that a San Mateo man was arrested for drunken driving after officers grabbing a cup of coffee watched him drive the wrong direction into the parking lot and stumble into the shop.

But Hill was even more shocked to learn that the man had been allowed back behind the wheel after eight previous DUI convictions.

So the San Mateo Democrat decided to push for a law to allow judges to permanently revoke the license of a driver with three or more DUIs.

"Today you need to hurt or kill someone before your license is revoked, and that's ridiculous," Hill said.

Under current law, judges can suspend, but not revoke, the licenses of repeat offenders with one or more DUIs in the previous 10 years unless they injure or kill someone in an alcohol-related accident.

Hill's measure, which he plans to introduce Monday, would also let judges consider the defendant's complete driving record during sentencing.

About 22 percent of the 153,000 DUI convictions reported in 2007 involved California motorists with at least one other DUI conviction in the previous 10 years, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

National Highway Traffic Administration data from 2008 show that nearly 311,000 California motorists have been convicted of at least three DUIs over the previous 25 years.

Critics say Hill's measure won't deter habitual drunken drivers but would put more unlicensed and uninsured drivers behind the wheel.

"You can never stop drunken driving, never," said Joshua Dale, executive director of the California DUI Lawyers Association. "It will never end unless you get the cars to take over."

But Hill said taking repeat offenders off the road is a logical place to start to ensure safer driving for all.

"If you receive three or more DUIs, it's a clear indication that something's wrong," he said.

Call Torey Van Oot, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5544.