TCA 39-13-213
Vehicular homicide
What does this charge mean?
Vehicular homicide is recklessly killing someone through operation of a vehicle (car, airplane, boat, or other motor vehicle) when caused by conduct creating substantial risk of death, the driver's intoxication, drag racing, or construction zone violations. Punishment ranges from 2 to 12 years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines for reckless conduct or drag racing; intoxication-related vehicular homicide is punished more severely as a Class B felony with a mandatory minimum 48 hours in jail, and sentences are enhanced for prior alcohol-related convictions.
Penalty Details
(a) Vehicular homicide is the reckless killing of another by the operation of an automobile, airplane, vessel subject to registration under title 69, chapter 9, part 2, or other motor vehicle, as the proximate result of: (1) Conduct creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to a person; (2) The driver’s intoxication, as set forth in § 55-10-401, or the operator’s intoxication, as set forth in § 69-9-217(a). For the purposes of this section, “intoxication” includes alcohol intoxication as defined by § 55-10-411(a), drug intoxication, or both; (3) As the proximate result of conduct constituting the offense of drag racing as prohibited by title 55, chapter 10, part 5; or (4) The driver’s conduct in a posted construction zone where the person killed was an employee of the department of transportation or a highway construction worker. (b) (1) Vehicular homicide under subdivision (a)(1) or (a)(3) is a Class C felony. (2) (A) Vehicular homicide under subdivision (a)(2) is a Class B felony. (B) Any sentence imposed for a first violation of subdivision (a)(2) shall include a mandatory minimum sentence of forty-eight (48) consecutive hours of incarceration. The person shall not be eligible for release from confinement until the person has served the entire forty-eight-hour minimum mandatory sentence. (C) If at the time of sentencing for a violation of subdivision (a)(2), the person has one (1) prior conviction for an alcohol-related offense, any sentence imposed by the judge shall include a mandatory minimum sentence of forty-five (45) consecutive days of incarceration. The person shall not be eligible for release from confinement until the person has served the entire forty-five-day minimum mandatory sentence. (D) If at the time of sentencing for a violation of subdivision (a)(2), the person has any combination of two (2) prior convictions for an alcohol-related offense, any sentence imposed by the judge shall include a mandatory minimum sentence of one hundred twenty (120) consecutive days of incarceration. The person shall not be eligible for release from confinement until the person has served the entire one hundred twenty-day mandatory minimum sentence. (E) If at the time of sentencing for a violation of subdivision (a)(2), the person has any combination of three (3) or more prior convictions for an alcohol-related offense, any sentence imposed by the judge shall include a mandatory minimum sentence of one hundred fifty (150) consecutive days of incarceration. The person shall not be eligible for release from confinement until the person has served the entire one hundred fifty-day mandatory minimum sentence. (F) As used in this subdivision (b)(2), “alcohol-related offense” means a conviction for a violation of subdivision (a)(2), § 55-10-401, § 39-13-106, or § 39-13-218. (G) For purposes of sentencing under this subdivision (b)(2), a prior conviction for an alcohol-related offense may be used to enhance the mandatory minimum sentence regardless of whether it occurred before or after July 1, 2015, as long as the violation of this section occurs on or after July 1, 2015. (3) Vehicular homicide under subdivision (a)(4) is a Class D felony. (c) The court shall prohibit a defendant convicted of vehicular homicide from driving a vehicle or operating a vessel subject to registration in this state for a period of time not less than three (3) years nor more than ten (10) years.
Recent Bookings with this Charge
View allMartin Perez
Macon Co. · Mar 9, 2026
Lorenzo Miller
Shelby Co. · Feb 24, 2026
Jaylen Flood
Shelby Co. · Feb 21, 2026
Ashley Talley
Hamilton Co. · Feb 19, 2026
Jose Recarte
Knox Co. · Feb 11, 2026
Jose Recarte
Knox Co. · Feb 11, 2026
Tianna Driskell
Shelby Co. · Feb 3, 2026

Eric Alcantara-Guevara
Knox Co. · Jan 19, 2026