HB58 Alabama 2014 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Paul Beckman
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2014
Title: Driving or operating a vehicle or vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs, criminal negligent homicide or assault in the first degree amended to include, Secs. 13A-6-4, 13A-6-20 am'd; Sec. 32-5A-192 repealed
Summary: HB58 expands DUI liability to cover any vehicle or vessel and stiffens penalties for deaths or serious injuries caused by impaired operation.
What This Bill Does
It treats death caused by operating any vehicle or vessel while unlawfully under the influence as criminally negligent homicide, a Class C felony in those cases. It also expands assault in the first degree to include causing serious physical injury while driving or operating any vehicle or vessel under the influence, making that offense a Class B felony. The bill repeals Section 32-5A-192. It states that the local-funds expenditure rules apply but the bill is exempt from those requirements due to an exception in Amendment 621.

Who It Affects
Operators of motor vehicles and vessels who drive or operate under the influence (they could be charged with criminally negligent homicide if someone dies, or with first-degree assault if they seriously injure someone).
Local government entities and taxpayers, because the bill interacts with Amendment 621’s local expenditure rules and is described as exempt from those requirements.

Key Provisions
Amends §13A-6-4 to make criminally negligent homicide apply when the death is caused by an operator of any vehicle or vessel unlawfully driving or operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, making it a Class C felony in those cases.
Amends §13A-6-20 to make assault in the first degree apply when serious physical injury is caused while driving or operating any vehicle or vessel under the influence; classifies as Class B felony; repeals §32-5A-192; and notes the local expenditure rules under Amendment 621 with an exemption.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Boats and Boating