SB472 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bryan Taylor

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Homicide, criminally negligent homicide, person commits criminally negligent homicide if person operates motor vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft while fatigued, Sec. 13A-6-4 am'd.

Summary

SB472 would make it a crime to cause a death by operating a vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft while fatigued (24 hours without sleep), making that specific situation a Class C felony.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends the criminally negligent homicide statute to cover deaths caused by fatigued operation of a vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft. It defines fatigue as being without sleep for 24 consecutive hours and sets that specific scenario as a Class C felony, while other criminally negligent homicides remain a Class A misdemeanor unless they involve certain violations. The bill allows the jury to consider applicable statutes when deciding culpable negligence, and it becomes effective according to the normal legislative timeline. It also notes that the local-funding requirements linked to Amendment 621 are not triggered because the bill defines a new crime rather than imposing new local costs.

Who It Affects

• Drivers and operators of motor vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft who could be responsible for a death while fatigued (fatigue defined as 24 hours without sleep).
• Families of crash victims and Alabama residents who could be affected by the change in criminal liability and potential deterrence for fatigue-related fatal crashes.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 13A-6-4 to add criminally negligent homicide when death results from operating a motor vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft while fatigued.
• Fatigued is defined as having no sleep for 24 consecutive hours; such cases are treated specially under the statute.
• Criminally negligent homicide would be a Class C felony in fatigue-related cases or in cases involving specific illegal driving scenarios; otherwise it remains a Class A misdemeanor.
• The jury may consider statutes and ordinances regulating conduct when determining culpable negligence; the bill includes an effective-date clause and clarifies local-funding requirements under Amendment 621 are not applicable because the bill creates/defines a new crime.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses