Homicide by vehicle

PITTSBURGH HOMICIDE LAWYER

HOW IS HOMICIDE BY VEHICLE DEFINED IN PENNSYLVANIA?
Section 3732 of the Vehicle Code requires the prosecution to prove three things before a person can be convicted of homicide by vehicle:

• Recklessly or negligently causing the death of another;
• “While engaged in the violation of any law of this Commonwealth or municipal ordinance applying to the operation or use of a vehicle or to the regulation of traffic” (except DUI); and
• The violation is the cause of death.

HOW SERIOUS IS HOMICIDE BY VEHICLE?
Homicide by vehicle while DUI is a third-degree felony, punishable up to seven years of imprisonment.

If the prosecution can prove that the homicide-by-vehicle offense “occurred in an active work zone,” then the convicted defendant may be sentenced up to an additional term of five years imprisonment.

An additional term of five years imprisonment may also be tagged to a conviction of homicide by vehicle if the person is also convicted of Section 1501, Section 1543, Section 3316, Section 3325, or Section 3327.