Vehicular homicide

Vehicular homicide is a crime that involves the death of a person other than the driver as a result of either criminally negligent or murderous operation of a motor vehicle.

Definition

In general, Vehicular homicide is a crime. In many jurisdictions, it is a punishable offense under vehicular crimes. It is usually a felony, punishable by imprisonment. The maximum penalty varies by state and can range from a few years to life.

Legal aspects

In most states, vehicular homicide that involves negligence is considered a lesser offense than more serious forms of homicide. The offense is often defined in degrees, and the degree of the offense often depends on factors such as whether the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or driving recklessly.

DUI and vehicular homicide

In some jurisdictions, a homicide that occurs during the commission of a DUI can be charged as a more serious offense, such as Manslaughter or Murder. In these cases, the prosecution must usually prove that the driver's actions were so negligent that they amounted to a disregard for human life.

Penalties

The penalties for vehicular homicide vary widely from state to state. In some states, the offense is classified as a misdemeanor, with penalties including a fine, imprisonment for up to a year, or both. In other states, vehicular homicide is a felony, and penalties can include long-term imprisonment, large fines, or both.

See also

• Traffic collision
• Reckless driving
• Drunk driving in the United States