Bill > S3304

This bill upgrades the crime of strict liability vehicular homicide, which occurs when someone causes a death by driving a vehicle while intoxicated (in violation of N.J.S.A. 39:4-50) or operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs (in violation of N.J.S.A. 12:7-46), from a third-degree crime to a second-degree crime. This change means that the penalties for this offense will be more severe, aligning them with penalties for other serious offenses like reckless vehicular homicide or leaving the scene of an accident that results in death. Specifically, a third-degree crime typically carries a penalty of three to five years imprisonment and/or a fine up to $15,000, while a second-degree crime carries a penalty of five to ten years imprisonment and/or a fine up to $150,000. The bill also clarifies that the defendant's intoxication or impairment is considered the cause of death if it was a necessary factor and the death was not too remote or dependent on unrelated actions, and it explicitly states that the victim's own negligence or recklessness is not a defense.

Justice

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S3304