Rep. Margie Wilcox, R-Mobile, speaks on the floor of the Alabama House of Representatives on Feb. 5, 2026 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. The House of Representatives passed her bill that increases the penalty for driving under the influence. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)
The Alabama House of Representatives approved legislation on Thursday increasing criminal penalties for those who physically injure or kill people while driving under the influence.
HB 243, sponsored by Rep. Margie Wilcox, R-Mobile, establishes the crime of manslaughter for people who cause the death of another person while driving under the influence, increasing the penalty from a Class C penalty with a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison to a Class B felony with a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison.
“As a matter of fact, in 2001, the (Alabama) Court of Criminal Appeals asked the Legislature to amend this law to prevent inequities from occurring in the future,” Wilcox told members of the House of Representatives. “Keep that in mind, in 2001, (the court) asked us to amend this law.”
The legislation also increases penalties for leaving the scene of an accident where someone is injured from a Class C felony to a Class B felony. It also allows people who are victims of a traffic collision that is considered criminal to collect restitution stemming from the incident.
Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Prichard, didn’t strongly oppose the bill but questioned why it was necessary to enhance the criminal penalty because the leaving the scene happened after the fact.
“If a person did a hit and run and was caught, it doesn’t change the fact that the hit and run happened, and the horrible event that happened at that moment,” said Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Prichard. “Whether they stayed or left, that horrible thing still happened.”
Wilcox said current law disincentivizes people from rendering aid.
“You face more penalties if the person is injured than, in fact, if they died or if they were killed,” she said.
The bill passed 103-0 with two abstentions.
It goes to the Alabama Senate.
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Author: Ralph Chapoco