Good Driver Discount: the difference between a “wet reckless” and DUI conviction
A wet reckless conviction stays on a person’s record for “Good Driver’s Discount” for seven years. A DUI stays on for 10 years. Therefore, a person convicted of a “wet reckless”, if he/she meets all the other criteria for a “Good Driver’s Discount”, can qualify three years faster for such a discount than a person convicted of an actual DUI. This is based on Insurance Code Section 1861.025 and Vehicle Code Section 1808. Please note: Section 1808 does not specifically mention “wet reckless” convictions, but references them through Section 1808 (b) (2).
Insurance Code Section 1861.025
1861.025. A person is qualified to purchase a Good Driver Discount policy if he or she meets all of the following criteria:
(a) He or she has been licensed to drive a motor vehicle for the previous three years.
(b) During the previous three years, he or she has not done any of the following:
(1) Had more than one violation point count determined as provided by subdivision (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (g), or (h) of Section 12810 of the Vehicle Code, but subject to the following modifications:
(A) For the purposes of this section, the driver of a motor vehicle involved in an accident for which he or she was principally at fault that resulted only in damage to property shall receive one violation point count, in addition to any other violation points that may be imposed for this accident.
(B) If, under Section 488 or 488.5, an insurer is prohibited from increasing the premium on a policy on account of a violation, that violation shall not be included in determining the point count of the person.
(C) If a violation is required to be reported under Section 1816 of the Vehicle Code, or under Section 784 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or any other provision requiring the reporting of a violation by a minor, the violation shall be included for the purposes of this section in determining the point count in the same manner as is applicable to adult violations.
(2) Had more than one dismissal pursuant to Section 1803.5 of the Vehicle Code that was not made confidential pursuant to Section 1808.7 of the Vehicle Code, in the 36-month period for violations that would have resulted in the imposition of more than one violation point count under paragraph (1) if the complaint had not been dismissed.
(3) Was the driver of a motor vehicle involved in an accident that resulted in bodily injury or in the death of any person and was principally at fault. The commissioner shall adopt regulations setting guidelines to be used by insurers for the determination of fault for the purposes of this paragraph and paragraph (1).
(c) During the period commencing on January 1, 1999, or the date 10 years prior to the date of application for the issuance or renewal of the Good Driver Discount policy, whichever is later, and ending on the date of the application for the issuance or renewal of the Good Driver Discount policy, he or she has not been convicted of a violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153 of the Vehicle Code, a felony violation of Section 23550 or 23566, or former Section 23175 or, as those sections read on January 1, 1999, of the Vehicle Code, or a violation of Section 191.5 or subdivision (a) of Section 192.5 of the Penal Code.
(d) Any person who claims that he or she meets the criteria of subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) based entirely or partially on a driver’s license and driving experience acquired anywhere other than in the United States or Canada is rebuttably presumed to be qualified to purchase a Good Driver Discount policy if he or she has been licensed to drive in the United States or Canada for at least the previous 18 months and meets the criteria of subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) for that period.
Vehicle Code Section 1808 Records Open to Public Inspection
Records Open to Public Inspection
1808. (a) Except where a specific provision of law prohibits the disclosure of records or information or provides for confidentiality, all records of the department relating to the registration of vehicles, other information contained on an application for a driver’s license, abstracts of convictions, and abstracts of accident reports required to be sent to the department in Sacramento, except for abstracts of accidents where, in the opinion of a reporting officer, another individual was at fault, shall be open to public inspection during office hours. All abstracts of accident reports shall be available to law enforcement agencies and courts of competent jurisdiction.
(b) The department shall make available or disclose abstracts of convictions and abstracts of accident reports required to be sent to the department in Sacramento, as described in subdivision (a), if the date of the occurrence is not later than the following:
(1) Ten years for a violation pursuant to Section 23140, 23152, or 23153.
(2) Seven years for a violation designated as two points pursuant to Section 12810, except as provided in paragraph (1) of this subdivision.
(3) Three years for accidents and all other violations.
(c) The department shall make available or disclose suspensions and revocations of the driving privilege while the suspension or revocation is in effect and for three years following termination of the action or reinstatement of the privilege, except that driver’s license suspension actions taken pursuant to Sections 13202.6 and 13202.7, or Section 256 or 11350.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code shall be disclosed only during the actual time period in which the suspension is in effect.
(d) The department shall not make available or disclose a suspension or revocation that has been judicially set aside or stayed.
(e) The department shall not make available or disclose personal information about a person unless the disclosure is in compliance with the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act of 1994 (18 U.S.C. Sec. 2721 et seq.). However, a disclosure is subject to the prohibition in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 12800.5.
(f) The department shall make available or disclose to the courts and law enforcement agencies a conviction of Section 23103, as specified in Section 23103.5, or a conviction of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153, or Section 655 of the Harbors and Navigation Code, or paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 192 of the Penal Code for a period of 10 years from the date of the offense for the purpose of imposing penalties mandated by this code, or by other applicable provisions of California law.
The department shall make available or disclose to the courts and law enforcement agencies a conviction of Section 191.5, or subdivision (a) of Section 192.5 of the Penal Code, punished as a felony, for the purpose of imposing penalties mandated by Section 23550.5, or by other applicable provisions of California law.
Amended Sec. 17, Ch. 473, Stats. 2001. Effective January 1, 2002.
Amended Sec. 6, Ch. 545, Stats. 2002. Effective January 1, 2003.
Amended Sec. 3, Ch. 550, Stats. 2004. Effective January 1, 2005
Amended Sec. 4, Ch. 311, Stats. 2006. Effective January 1, 2007.
Amended Sec. 13, Ch. 747, Stats. 2007. Effective January 1, 2008.