Idaho's Vehicular Manslaughter Laws and Penalties

A motorist who drives negligently or while under the influence and causes the death of another person may face vehicular manslaughter charges in Idaho.

Defend your rights. We've helped 95 clients find attorneys today.

There was a problem with the submission. Please refresh the page and try again
Full Name is required
Email is required
Please add a valid Email
Phone Number is required
Please add a valid Phone Number
Zip Code is required
Please add a valid Zip Code
Description is required
By clicking "Find a Lawyer", you agree to the Martindale-Nolo Texting Terms. Martindale-Nolo and up to 5 participating attorneys may contact you on the number you provided for marketing purposes, discuss available services, etc. Messages may be sent using pre-recorded messages, auto-dialer or other automated technology. You are not required to provide consent as a condition of service. Attorneys have the option, but are not required, to send text messages to you. You will receive up to 2 messages per week from Martindale-Nolo. Frequency from attorney may vary. Message and data rates may apply. Your number will be held in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

You should not send any sensitive or confidential information through this site. Any information sent through this site does not create an attorney-client relationship and may not be treated as privileged or confidential. The lawyer or law firm you are contacting is not required to, and may choose not to, accept you as a client. The Internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent through this site could be intercepted or read by third parties.

In Idaho, a motorist can be convicted of "vehicular manslaughter" (sometimes called "vehicular homicide") for causing the death of another person while:

  • committing a misdemeanor or infraction and driving in a "negligent" or "grossly negligent" manner, or

  • driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in violation of the state's DUI laws.

A vehicular manslaughter conviction requires proof that the driver's operation of the vehicle was a "significant cause" of the other person's death.

Negligence and gross negligence. The difference between "negligence" and "gross negligence" is a matter of degree. A person acts with negligence by failing to exercise the degree of care that a prudent person would under like circumstances. With gross negligence, the defendant not only fails to exercise reasonable care, but does so to a degree that's substantially greater than would constitute ordinary negligence.

Under the influence. For purposes of the vehicular manslaughter statute, "under the influence" means the person had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or more or was impaired by drugs or alcohol to an extent so as to influence or affect the person's driving abilities.

Vehicular Manslaughter Penalties

The consequences of a vehicular manslaughter conviction depend on the circumstances. But generally, the possible penalties are:

  • DUI-related offenses. A motorist who's convicted of DUI-related vehicular manslaughter faces up to 15 years in prison and/or a maximum $15,000 in fines.

  • Grossly negligent vehicular manslaughter. A motorist who's convicted of vehicular manslaughter based on grossly negligent driving is looking at up to ten years in prison and/or a maximum $10,000 in fines.

  • Negligent vehicular manslaughter. A motorist who's convicted of vehicular manslaughter based on negligent driving faces up to one year in jail and/or a maximum $2,000 in fines.

If a vehicular manslaughter offense leads to the death of the parent of a child, the sentencing judge can order the offender to pay child support until the child reaches age 18. And all vehicular manslaughter offenders face license revocation, either by the court or the Idaho Transportation Department.

Talk to a Criminal Defense Attorney

Vehicular manslaughter is a serious criminal charge that can result in a long prison sentence. If you've been arrested for vehicular manslaughter—or any other crime—get in contact with a criminal defense attorney right away. The facts of every case are different. An experienced defense attorney can explain how the law applies to the facts of your case and help you decide on the best plan of action.

DEFEND YOUR RIGHTS
Talk to a Defense attorney
We've helped 95 clients find attorneys today.
There was a problem with the submission. Please refresh the page and try again
Full Name is required
Email is required
Please add a valid Email
Phone Number is required
Please add a valid Phone Number
Zip Code is required
Please add a valid Zip Code
Description is required
By clicking "Find a Lawyer", you agree to the Martindale-Nolo Texting Terms. Martindale-Nolo and up to 5 participating attorneys may contact you on the number you provided for marketing purposes, discuss available services, etc. Messages may be sent using pre-recorded messages, auto-dialer or other automated technology. You are not required to provide consent as a condition of service. Attorneys have the option, but are not required, to send text messages to you. You will receive up to 2 messages per week from Martindale-Nolo. Frequency from attorney may vary. Message and data rates may apply. Your number will be held in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

You should not send any sensitive or confidential information through this site. Any information sent through this site does not create an attorney-client relationship and may not be treated as privileged or confidential. The lawyer or law firm you are contacting is not required to, and may choose not to, accept you as a client. The Internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent through this site could be intercepted or read by third parties.

How It Works

  1. Briefly tell us about your case
  2. Provide your contact information
  3. Choose attorneys to contact you