Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Community Safety Committee
HB 1101
Brief Description: Concerning vehicular homicide offenses.
Sponsors: Representatives Jacobsen and Klicker.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Designates Vehicular Homicide as both a violent offense and a most serious offense, regardless of which statutorily enumerated circumstance applies to the commission of the offense.?
Hearing Date: 1/21/25
Staff: Corey Patton (786-7388).
Background:

A driver of a motor vehicle commits Vehicular Homicide if the death of any person ensues within three years as a proximate result of injury proximately caused by the driver's operation of the motor vehicle under any of the following three enumerated circumstances:

  • ?while under the influence of an intoxicating liquor or any drug;
  • ?in a reckless manner; or
  • ?with disregard for the safety of others.

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Vehicular Homicide is a class A felony ranked at either seriousness level XI or VII, depending on which of the three enumerated circumstances applies.

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Under state law, felony offenses are categorized as either violent or nonviolent.? A felony offense may also be designated as a most serious offense (sometimes referred to as a "strike offense"). ?If a person is convicted of a most serious offense and has at least two prior and separate convictions for most serious offenses, the person is considered a persistent offender and must be sentenced to life in prison.? Any class A felony is categorically both a violent offense and a most serious offense.? Additionally, Vehicular Homicide is specifically designated by statute as both a violent offense and a most serious offense if committed while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or in a reckless manner.??

Summary of Bill:

Vehicular Homicide is specifically designated as both a violent offense and a most serious offense, regardless of which statutorily enumerated circumstance applies to the commission of the offense.

Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 15, 2025.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.