SB89 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bryan Taylor

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Driving or operating a vehicle under the influence, defined to include vessels, criminal negligent homicide or assault in the first degree amended to include vessels, Secs. 13A-6-4, 13A-6-20 am'd.

Summary

SB89 expands DUI liability to include vessels, tightens penalties for DUI-related deaths and injuries, and eliminates a separate homicide-by-vehicle statute by amending homicide and assault laws.

What This Bill Does

It makes criminally negligent homicide a Class C felony when caused by a driver or vessel operator unlawfully under the influence; it creates a DUI-related first-degree assault provision for causing serious injury with a motor vehicle or vessel (Class B felony); it applies these offenses to driving or operating any vehicle, including a vessel, under the influence; and it repeals the separate homicide-by-vehicle/vessel statute (32-5A-192).

Who It Affects

• Drivers or vessel operators under the influence, whose DUI-caused deaths may be charged as a Class C felony and whose DUI-caused serious injuries may be charged as first-degree assault.
• Victims and families of DUI-related deaths or serious injuries, who face potentially harsher charges and penalties under the amended law.

Key Provisions

• Amends 13A-6-4 so criminally negligent homicide is a Class A misdemeanor unless caused by a DUI driver or vessel operator, in which case it is a Class C felony.
• Amends 13A-6-20 to add a DUI-related first-degree assault provision: causing serious injury with a motor vehicle or vessel while under the influence (Class B felony).
• Extends the DUI-related offenses to any vehicle, including a vessel.
• Repeals 32-5A-192, removing the separate crime of homicide by vehicle or vessel.

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