New Jersey statute
N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5.3 — Strict liability vehicular homicide
Current through P.L.2025, c.346, and J.R.22
Part of Chapter 11, New Jersey Statutes.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5.3
Statutory text current through the P.L.2025, c.346, and J.R.22. This publication reproduces the official text of the New Jersey Statutes from the statute files published by the New Jersey Legislature; it is not the official statutes of the State of New Jersey.
1. a. Criminal homicide constitutes strict liability vehicular homicide when it is caused by driving a vehicle while intoxicated in violation of R.S.39:4-50 or operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs in violation of section 3 of P.L.1952, c.157 (C.12:7-46).
b. Strict liability vehicular homicide is a crime of the third degree, but the presumption of nonimprisonment set forth in subsection e. of N.J.S.2C:44-1 shall not apply.
c. The provisions of N.J.S.2C:2-3 governing the causal relationship between conduct and result shall not apply in a prosecution under this section. For purposes of this offense, the defendant's act of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated in violation of R.S.39:4-50 or operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs in violation of section 3 of P.L.1952, c.157 (C.12:7-46) is the cause of death when:
(1) The operation of the motor vehicle or vessel is an antecedent but for which the death would not have occurred; and
(2) The death was not:
(a) too remote in its occurrence as to have a just bearing on the defendant's liability; or
(b) too dependent upon the conduct of another person which was unrelated to the defendant's operation of a motor vehicle or vessel as to have a just bearing on the defendant's liability.
d. It shall not be a defense to a prosecution under this section that the decedent contributed to his own death by reckless or negligent conduct or operation of a motor vehicle or vessel.
e. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to preclude, if the evidence so warrants, an indictment and conviction for any other offense.
L.2017, c.165, s.1.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
What degree of offense is strict liability vehicular homicide in New Jersey?
Strict liability vehicular homicide is a crime of the third degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5.3.
Which New Jersey statute covers strict liability vehicular homicide?
Strict liability vehicular homicide is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5.3 (Strict liability vehicular homicide).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.