Compounding layers of leniency in California laws are now allowing drivers charged with vehicular manslaughter to walk away with clean records, raising urgent calls for reform from families impacted by these tragedies. Allison Lyman is one such voice, seeking accountability for the death of her son. She argues that soft-on-crime laws, passed during Governor Gavin Newsom’s leadership, have eroded the justice system’s ability to hold reckless drivers accountable. Lyman poignantly refers to these laws as “negligence.”
“‘Soft on crime,’ ‘let’s clear the jails,’” she explains, highlighting a trend she believes has dangerous consequences. Her own story is tragically tied to these legal changes. In April, her son, Connor Lopez, lost his life in a collision involving Harkit Kaur, a 50-year-old driver who turned into oncoming traffic. Eyewitnesses describe the moment as catastrophic, yet police reports found no signs of intoxication. The aftermath shocked Lyman: the incident was classified as a misdemeanor, an offense treated less seriously than a shoplifting charge.
Lyman soon learned that Kaur might erase the fatality from her record entirely due to a law signed by Newsom in 2020. “The day I sat in front of the DA was unforgettable,” she recounted. During that meeting, she was introduced to AB 3234, a law that expands judges’ authority to dismiss misdemeanor charges for defendants who complete court-ordered programs. This legislation effectively wipes the slate clean for these drivers, allowing them to continue operating on California roads without repercussions.
“The driver that killed Connor has never lost her license,” Lyman stated, a claim reinforced by her own sightings of Kaur behind the wheel. Kaur has yet to receive a diversion ruling, with her final sentencing expected soon. Yet, Lyman highlights a troubling pattern, noting how courts are nudged to consider diversion programs instead of jail sentences.
In a heartbreaking twist, Lyman shares her experience with another victim, a woman whose husband was killed in a similar collision. During a court appearance, the same judge cited a code — 17.2 — that compels judges to consider diversion options before meting out prison time. This law, passed in 2023 as AB 2167, encourages alternatives like restorative justice and probation, further minimizing the consequences for fatal negligent driving.
In the wake of her son’s death, Lyman is dedicated to advocating for SB 953, a proposed law aimed at mandating that all vehicular manslaughter incidents be reported to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Sponsor Sen. Roger Niello underscored the significance of this legislation, stating that accountability for deadly driving should matter more than a simple speeding ticket, which can reflect more severely on a driver’s record than a death caused by recklessness. “A diversion does not change the fact that a fatality occurred,” Niello remarked.
SB 953 is now gaining traction, having successfully passed out of committee unanimously. It represents a crucial step toward ensuring that dangerous drivers are held accountable, preventing them from endangering lives on the road. As Lyman continues her fight, she embodies the struggle of countless families touched by avoidable tragedies, urging reform in a system that has increasingly prioritized leniency over justice.
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