HB496 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris PringleRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Homicide, crime of homicide by vehicle or vessel, created, penalties, Marshall James Walton Highway Safety Act

Summary

HB496 creates a new crime called homicide by vehicle or vessel under the Marshall James Walton Highway Safety Act, with penalties.

What This Bill Does

It makes it illegal to cause the death of another person while knowingly violating traffic or boating laws, if that violation is the proximate cause of the death. If convicted, the offender would face a Class C felony. The bill also includes an exemption from the local-government funding rule in Amendment 621, meaning it does not trigger the usual local funding approval process, and it becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Vehicle and vessel operators in Alabama who knowingly violate traffic or boating laws and have their violations proximate cause a death; they could be charged with homicide by vehicle or vessel.
• Local governments and taxpayers, because the bill excludes itself from the local-funding expenditure requirements of Amendment 621.

Key Provisions

• Creates the new crime of homicide by vehicle or vessel, defining it as causing the death of another person while knowingly violating any state traffic or boating law or municipal ordinance, with the violation being the proximate cause; designated as a Class C felony.
• Includes an exemption from Amendment 621 local-funding requirements (allowing the bill to become law without a 2/3 local-vote approval) and sets the act's effective date as the first day of the third month following passage and governor approval.

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

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses