HB88 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris PringleRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

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

Summary

HB88 creates a new crime, homicide by vehicle or vessel, and sets penalties for causing a death while knowingly breaking vehicle, vessel, or traffic laws.

What This Bill Does

It creates the Marshall James Walton Highway Safety Act and defines a new crime called homicide by vehicle or vessel. A person would be guilty if their death-causing actions result from knowingly violating traffic, boating, or vehicle-use laws, and those violations are the proximate cause of the death. The bill assigns a Class C felony penalty for those convicted and states that it does not trigger local-funding approval requirements; it becomes effective three months after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Vehicle and vessel operators who knowingly violate traffic or boating laws, because their actions could lead to a homicide by vehicle or vessel charge.
• Law enforcement, prosecutors, and the court system, because they would investigate, charge, and adjudicate cases under this new crime.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Marshall James Walton Highway Safety Act and creates the crime of homicide by vehicle or vessel.
• Defines homicide by vehicle or vessel as causing the death of another person while knowingly violating a state or municipal law/ordinance related to operation or use of a vehicle or vessel, or to traffic/boating regulation, with the violation being the proximate cause of death.
• Imposes a Class C felony penalty for those convicted of homicide by vehicle or vessel.
• States that the bill is excluded from certain local-funding requirements under Amendment 621 because it defines a new crime or amends the definition of an existing crime.
• Provides that the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and governor's 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