§ 28-306 — Motor vehicle homicide; penalty

Nebraska § 28-306

• Jurisdiction: Nebraska
• Ch. 28: Crimes and Punishments

Text

(1) A person who causes the death of another unintentionally while engaged in the operation of a motor vehicle in violation of the law of the State of Nebraska or in violation of any city or village ordinance commits motor vehicle homicide.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, motor vehicle homicide is a Class I misdemeanor.
(3)(a) If the proximate cause of the death of another is the operation of a motor vehicle in violation of section 60-6,213 or 60-6,214 , motor vehicle homicide is a Class IIIA felony.
(b) If the proximate cause of the death of another is the operation of a motor vehicle in violation of section 60-6,196 or 60-6,197.06 , motor vehicle homicide is a Class IIA felony.
(c) If the proximate cause of the death of another is the operation of a motor vehicle in violation of section 60-6,196 or 60-6,197.06 , motor vehicle homicide is a Class II felony if the defendant has a prior conviction for a violation of section 60-6,196 or 60-6,197.06 , under a city or village ordinance enacted in conformance with section 60-6,196 , or under a law of another state if, at the time of the conviction under the law of such other state, the offense for which the defendant was convicted would have been a violation of section 60-6,196 .
(4)(a) For a conviction under subsection (2) or subdivision (3)(a) of this section, the court may, as part of the judgment of conviction, order the person not to drive any motor vehicle for any purpose for a period of up to two years and order that the operator's license of such person be suspended for the same period.
(b) For a conviction under subdivision (3)(b) or (c) of this section, the court shall, as part of the judgment of conviction, order the person not to drive any motor vehicle for any purpose for a period of fifteen years and shall order that the operator's license of such person be revoked for the same period.
(5) An order of the court described in this section shall be administered upon sentencing, upon final judgment of any appeal or review, or upon the date that any probation is revoked.
(6) The crime punishable under this section shall be treated as a separate and distinct offense from any other offense arising out of acts alleged to have been committed while the person was in violation of this section.

Legislative History

Source: Laws 1977, LB 38, § 21; Laws 1979, LB 1, § 1; Laws 1992, LB 291, § 2; Laws 1993, LB 370, § 9; Laws 1993, LB 575, § 3; Laws 1997, LB 364, § 3; Laws 2001, LB 38, § 1; Laws 2004, LB 208, § 1; Laws 2006, LB 925, § 1; Laws 2011, LB667, § 3; Laws 2015, LB605, § 11; Laws 2025, LB530, § 3. Effective Date: September 3, 2025 Cross References: Operator's license, assessment of points and revocation, see sections 60-496 to 60-497.01, 60-498 to 60-498.04, 60-499, and 60-4,182 et seq. Annotations: Just as in the context of habitual criminal and driving under the influence sentence enhancements, evidence of a prior conviction must be introduced in order to enhance a sentence for motor vehicle homicide. State v. Valdez, 305 Neb. 441, 940 N.W.2d 840 (2020). Misdemeanor motor vehicle homicide is a public welfare offense which does not require proof of mens rea. State v. Perina, 282 Neb. 463, 804 N.W.2d 164 (2011). Motor vehicle homicide is not a lesser-included offense of manslaughter under current statutes. State v. Wright, 261 Neb. 277, 622 N.W.2d 676 (2001). One who is convicted of manslaughter under section 28-305 for a killing involving the use of a motor vehicle must be sentenced in accordance with that section rather than this section, the motor vehicle homicide statute. State v. Burnett, 254 Neb. 771, 579 N.W.2d 513 (1998). In order to convict a defendant of felony motor vehicle homicide under this section, the State must prove the defendant's driving in violation of section 39-669.07 proximately caused the death of another. State v. Batts, 233 Neb. 776, 448 N.W.2d 136 (1989) (pursuant to Laws 1993, LB 370, section 293, language from section 39-669.07 was placed in section 60-6,196). In order to convict a defendant under this section, the State must prove that the accused's intoxication was the proximate cause of the accident and resulting death. State v. Ring, 233 Neb. 720, 447 N.W.2d 908 (1989) (pursuant to Laws 1993, LB 370, section 293, language from section 39-669.07 was placed in section 60-6,196). Motor vehicle homicide is a lesser-included offense of manslaughter. State v. Roth, 222 Neb. 119, 382 N.W.2d 348 (1986). A conviction for motor vehicle homicide by reckless/willful reckless driving does not give the sentencing court any authority to order a driver's license revocation. State v. Andersen, 16 Neb. App. 651, 748 N.W.2d 124 (2008).