2012 -- H 7501

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LC01381

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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A N A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES

     

     

     Introduced By: Representative Cale P. Keable

     Date Introduced: February 09, 2012

     Referred To: House Judiciary

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 31-27 of the General Laws entitled "Motor Vehicle Offenses" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     31-27-1.3. Homicide by motor vehicle. – (a) Any person who, without malice

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aforethought, causes the death of another person through the violation of any violation or offense

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set forth in section 31-41.1-4 and which is a moving motor vehicle violation and/or directly

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involves a moving motor vehicle commits the offense of homicide by motor vehicle in the first

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degree when such violation is the cause of said death and, upon conviction thereof, shall be

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punished by imprisonment for not less than three (3) years nor more than fifteen (15) years, and a

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fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

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     (b ) Any person who causes the death of another person, without an intention to do so, by

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violating any traffic violation or offense set forth in section 31-41.1-4 which violation or offense

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is not a moving motor vehicle violation and/or does not directly involve a moving motor vehicle

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commits the offense of homicide by motor vehicle in the second degree when such violation is

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the cause of said death and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not

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more than one year, and a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

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     (c) Any person who, after being declared a habitual offender as determined under the

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provisions of chapter 31-40 ("Habitual Offenders") and while such person's license is in

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revocation or otherwise withheld during the period during such periods as provided in sections

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31-40-6 and/or 31-40-7, causes the death of another person, without malice aforethought, by

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operation of a motor vehicle, commits the offense of homicide by motor vehicle in the first

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degree and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than five (5)

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years, nor more than twenty (20) years. Adjudication of guilt or imposition of such sentence for a

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person so convicted may be suspended, probated, deferred, or withheld, but only after such

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person shall have served at least three (3) years in incarceration, which may not be served or

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included as home confinement.

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     (d) As used herein, the term "motor vehicle" shall have the same meaning and definition

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as set forth in chapter 31-1 ("Definitions and General Code Provisions").

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

     

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LC01381

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES

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     This act would establish the crime of homicide by motor vehicle for motor vehicle

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violations that cause the death of another person. The crime may be a felony or a misdemeanor,

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depending upon the nature of the motor vehicle violation.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

     

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LC01381

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H7501