Vehicular homicide (Oregon)

In the state of Oregon, there is one statute that has "vehicular [...]" in the title. That is "Aggravated vehicular [...]," ORS 163.149. People can be and are prosecuted for vehicular homicides under the already existing [...] and Criminally Negligent [...] statutes. Additionally, there is a special statute that elevates the crime seriousness of [...] I and Criminally Negligent [...] when it is caused by a drunk driver. ORS 163.147. When victims survive, prosecutors frequently charge defendants with serious assaults by means of a dangerous weapon (to wit: a vehicle). Oregon has a special law commonly referred to as "Measure 11" which subjects first time offenders to harsh mandatory minimum sentences. ORS 137.700. [...] I carries a mandatory ten year sentence, even for a first time conviction. [...] II carries 75 months, approximately 6 1/4 years. Therefore, drivers charged with causing someone's death recklessly (Man II) or recklessly, under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life (Man I), are facing very serious charges with very serious prison time.

Current law requires the State to prove at least criminal or gross negligence to get a conviction. Criminally negligent [...] requires the State to prove criminal negligence. [...] II requires the State to prove recklessness. [...] I requires the State to prove recklessness, under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life. This means it is up to the jury to decide, when a driver kills someone, whether the driver was just ordinarily negligent, making a simple driving mistake that anyone might make (and therefore not guilty of a crime but perhaps liable for civil damages), or whether the driver was grossly negligent or worse (and therefore guilty of a crime).

Some civil lawyers and relatives of those killed by negligent drivers are pushing for new legislation.