Investigations
Lawmakers gut major DUI reform through ‘hostile amendments’
The bill had widespread support, but Sen. Sabrina Cervantes' committee suddenly gutted it with little explanation.
License to Kill
Investigations
Eight bills related to License to Kill advance in the Legislature
Lawmakers proposed a suite of bills in response to a series of CalMatters investigative stories.
Commentary
Real journalism tells real stories, not YouTube fables to solicit money
Real journalism is distinct from social news tricks for clicks. Journalists hold the powerful accountable, and most won't ask you for money.
Investigations
‘We’re talking about people’s lives:’ California lawmakers grill DMV director on deadly failures
The state Senate's hearing on driving laws was spurred by a CalMatters investigation into California's approach to deadly drivers.
Investigations
After his crash killed a child, the DMV renewed his license – then it hid his records
‘There is either moral culpability or legal liability on them,' the Placer County DA said, 'and they are actively seeking to prevent that from being disclosed.'
Investigations
‘It’s time’: California leaders unveil biggest crackdown on drunk drivers in decades
A bipartisan coalition of state lawmakers has introduced 10 bills, an unprecedented package designed to stop deadly drivers.
Investigations
California has a dangerous driver problem. A bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to fix that
The Assembly proposals are part of a broader push at the Capitol to reform California's weak driving laws.
Investigations
How a speeding ticket can be worse than killing someone with your car in California
A diversion program created by the Legislature in 2020 has allowed some people charged with vehicular manslaughter to keep the case off of their driving record.
Investigations
40,000 people died on California roads. State leaders looked away
‘If these people's children had been killed by a drunk driver, there is no way they would be objecting to this.’
Justice
They crashed. They killed. They’re driving again in the North Bay — and it’s perfectly legal
Despite felony convictions in fatal crashes, several local drivers have regained licenses under a system that operates with no public tracking, few safeguards and rising calls for reform.