California · 2025–26 Regular Session · Assembly Bill
AB 1281: Vehicles: leaving the scene of an accident.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
AB 1281 is a assembly bill introduced in the California Assembly on February 21, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Vehicles: leaving the scene of an accident. Primary sponsor: Carl DeMaio (R). Most recent recorded action (January 13, 2026): From committee: Without further action pursuant to Joint Rule 62(a).
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.
Existing law requires the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than that driver, or in the death of a person, to immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident and provide specified personal information to the injured person or the occupants of the other vehicle and to any traffic or police officer at the scene of the accident. Under existing law, if a vehicle accident results in permanent, serious injury or death, a person who violates the requirement to stop is subject to punishment by imprisonment in the state prison for 2, 3, or 4 years, or in a county jail for not less than 90 days nor more than one year, or by a specified fine, or both the imprisonment and fine. Existing law requires a person who flees the scene of the crime after committing specified vehicle manslaughter while intoxicated or vehicle manslaughter to be punished for an additional term of imprisonment of 5 years in the state prison, upon conviction, and in addition and consecutive to the punishment prescribed.
This bill would instead require a person who violates the requirement to stop to be subject to punishment by imprisonment in the state prison for 7, 8, or 9 years if the vehicle accident results in permanent, serious injury or death.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carl DeMaio | Primary sponsor | Republican | Assembly | 75 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- From committee: Without further action pursuant to Joint Rule 62(a).
- In committee: Set, final hearing. Failed passage.
- Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
- From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.
- In committee: Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
- In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
- Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
- Read first time.
- From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
- Introduced. To print.