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AB 1814

Peace officer training: driving under the influence.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Juan Alanis

mandating a 3+ hour POST course on DUI/drug impairment for traffic officers with ongoing refreshers, SFST, drug categories, and court testimony, by 2027.

Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
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Bill Summary · AB 1814

Summary of AB 1814 (2025-2026) – Peace Officer Training: Driving Under the Influence

Purpose and Intent

  • AB 1814 would add a new Penal Code requirement to enhance peace officer training related to detecting and apprehending drivers suspected of DUI for drugs or alcohol.
  • The bill aims to strengthen officers’ abilities to recognize impairment, conduct appropriate testing, and document DUI-related investigations.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • New Training Course (Penal Code §13519.16)

    • The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) must establish and maintain a continuing training course focused on detecting and apprehending drivers whose behavior indicates DUI of drugs or alcohol (Vehicle Code §23152).
    • Course duration: at least 3 consecutive hours, possible use of scenario-based and instructor-led active learning.
    • Minimum topics included:
    • Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST)
    • The seven major drug categories
    • Signs and symptomatology of impairment
    • Physiology of drugs
    • Drug combinations
    • Courtroom testimony
    • Report writing

  • Who Must Complete the Training

    • Peace officers (rank of supervisor or below) assigned primarily to traffic enforcement must complete the course within 1 year of assignment and then every 2 years thereafter.
    • The course requires participation in a National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA)-approved SFST course of at least 16 hours within 1 year of assignment to traffic enforcement.

  • Flexibility for Officers with Non-Primary Traffic Roles

    • Officers assigned to traffic enforcement as an ancillary function are not required to complete the course under subdivision (c).

  • Alternate Training Options (In lieu of the Core Course)

    • If an officer completed the core course (3 hours) but leaves an agency and returns to traffic enforcement within 2 years, they may fulfill the requirement by completing eligible other POST-certified courses, including:
    • CHP-provided courses (e.g., SFST course, SFST refresher, Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) classroom course, DRE recertification, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement)
    • Other commission-certified continuing professional training-eligible courses related to detecting and apprehending DUI drivers

  • Implementation Timeline

    • The POST Commission must implement the new section by July 1, 2027.

  • Costs and Reimbursement

    • Because the bill adds state-mandated local training requirements, it is treated as a state-mandated local program. If the Commission on State Mandates determines costs are mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts would follow existing statutory reimbursement procedures (Part 7 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

Affected Entities

  • Local and state peace officers, especially those assigned to traffic enforcement.
  • POST (California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training) as the administrator of the new training program.
  • Local law enforcement agencies that provide DUI-enforcement training to personnel.

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Amendment and Referral History
    • Introduced February 10, 2026 by Assembly Member Alanis.
    • Referred to public safety committees with amendments; subsequent re-referrals and actions occurred in March 2026.
  • Effective Date
    • Implementation targeted for on or before July 1, 2027.
  • Cost Reimbursement
    • If mandated costs are determined, local agencies would be reimbursed per existing state-mandated local cost provisions.

Practical Impact

  • Improves officer training on detecting drug- and alcohol-impaired driving through structured, scenario-based instruction.
  • Ensures ongoing, periodic training for traffic-enforcement personnel to maintain proficiency in SFST and DUI-related best practices.
  • Provides alternative ways for officers to meet the training requirement via recognized POST-certified courses, potentially easing scheduling and staffing impacts.
  • Represents a state-mandated local program, with potential for state reimbursement to local agencies for qualifying costs.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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