Upgrades strict liability vehicular homicide to crime of second degree.

This bill upgrades the offense of causing death while driving intoxicated (violating N.J.S.A. 39:4-50) or operating a vessel under the influence (violating N.J.S.A. 12:7-46) from a third-degree to a second-degree crime. It directly affects individuals convicted of these specific intoxication-related deaths by increasing penalties: second-degree crimes carry 5-10 years in prison (vs. 3-5 years for third-degree) and fines up to $150,000 (vs. $15,000). The bill removes the presumption of nonimprisonment for this offense and eliminates defenses based on the victim’s contributory negligence. It applies to cases where the defendant’s intoxication directly caused the death, without requiring proof of intent to kill.