§ 609.2114 — Criminal Vehicular Operation; Unborn Child
Plain-Language Summary
Makes it a crime to cause the death of or injury to an unborn child while driving in a grossly negligent or impaired manner (including under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or cannabis, or with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, or by leaving the scene). Causing the death of an unborn child carries up to 10 years and a fine of up to $20,000, increasing to 15 years when certain impaired-driving violations occur within ten years of a qualified prior driving offense. Causing great bodily harm to an unborn child who is subsequently born alive carries up to 5 years and a fine of up to $10,000. A conviction under this section does not bar punishment for other crimes arising from the same conduct, and there is an affirmative defense for use of a controlled substance under a valid prescription.
609.2114 CRIMINAL VEHICULAR OPERATION; UNBORN CHILD.
§
Subdivision 1.Death to an unborn child.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), a person is guilty of criminal vehicular operation resulting in death to an unborn child and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than ten years or to payment of a fine of not more than $20,000, or both, if the person causes the death of an unborn child as a result of operating a motor vehicle:
(1) in a grossly negligent manner;
(2) in a negligent manner while under the influence of:
(i) alcohol;
(ii) a controlled substance;
(iii) cannabis flower, a cannabis product, a lower-potency hemp edible, a hemp-derived consumer product, artificially derived cannabinoids, or tetrahydrocannabinols; or
(iv) any combination of those elements;
(3) while having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more;
(4) while having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, as measured within two hours of the time of driving;
(5) in a negligent manner while under the influence of an intoxicating substance and the person knows or has reason to know that the substance has the capacity to cause impairment;
(6) in a negligent manner while any amount of a controlled substance listed in Schedule I or II, or its metabolite, other than cannabis flower, a cannabis product, a lower-potency hemp edible, a hemp-derived consumer product, artificially derived cannabinoids, or tetrahydrocannabinols, is present in the person’s body;
(7) where the driver who causes the accident leaves the scene of the accident in violation of section 169.09, subdivision 1 or 6; or
(8) where the driver had actual knowledge that a peace officer had previously issued a citation or warning that the motor vehicle was defectively maintained, the driver had actual knowledge that remedial action was not taken, the driver had reason to know that the defect created a present danger to others, and the injury was caused by the defective maintenance.
(b) If a person is sentenced under paragraph (a) for a violation under paragraph (a), clauses (2) to (6), occurring within ten years of a qualified prior driving offense, the statutory maximum sentence of imprisonment is 15 years. §
Subd. 2.Injury to an unborn child.
A person is guilty of criminal vehicular operation resulting in injury to an unborn child and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both, if the person causes the great bodily harm to an unborn child subsequently born alive as a result of operating a motor vehicle:
(1) in a grossly negligent manner;
(2) in a negligent manner while under the influence of:
(i) alcohol;
(ii) a controlled substance;
(iii) cannabis flower, a cannabis product, a lower-potency hemp edible, a hemp-derived consumer product, artificially derived cannabinoids, or tetrahydrocannabinols; or
(iv) any combination of those elements;
(3) while having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more;
(4) while having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, as measured within two hours of the time of driving;
(5) in a negligent manner while under the influence of an intoxicating substance and the person knows or has reason to know that the substance has the capacity to cause impairment;
(6) in a negligent manner while any amount of a controlled substance listed in Schedule I or II, or its metabolite, other than cannabis flower, a cannabis product, a lower-potency hemp edible, a hemp-derived consumer product, artificially derived cannabinoids, or tetrahydrocannabinols, is present in the person’s body;
(7) where the driver who causes the accident leaves the scene of the accident in violation of section 169.09, subdivision 1 or 6; or
(8) where the driver had actual knowledge that a peace officer had previously issued a citation or warning that the motor vehicle was defectively maintained, the driver had actual knowledge that remedial action was not taken, the driver had reason to know that the defect created a present danger to others, and the injury was caused by the defective maintenance. §
Subd. 3.Conviction not bar to punishment for other crimes.
A prosecution for or a conviction of a crime under this section relating to causing death or injury to an unborn child is not a bar to conviction of or punishment for any other crime committed by the defendant as part of the same conduct. §
Subd. 4.Affirmative defense.
It shall be an affirmative defense to a charge under subdivisions 1, clause (6), and 2, clause (6), that the defendant used the controlled substance according to the terms of a prescription issued for the defendant in accordance with sections 152.11 and 152.12.
History:
1986 c 388 s 3,4; 1989 c 290 art 10 s 7; 1990 c 602 art 4 s 1; 1996 c 408 art 3 s 17,18; 1996 c 442 s 33; 2004 c 283 s 13; 2007 c 54 art 3 s 8,9,10; 2014 c 180 s 8,9; 2016 c 109 s 3; 2018 c 195 art 3 s 23,24; 2023 c 63 art 4 s 43,44
History: History: 1986 c 388 s 3,4; 1989 c 290 art 10 s 7; 1990 c 602 art 4 s 1; 1996 c 408 art 3 s 17,18; 1996 c 442 s 33; 2004 c 283 s 13; 2007 c 54 art 3 s 8,9,10; 2014 c 180 s 8,9; 2016 c 109 s 3; 2018 c 195 art 3 s 23,24; 2023 c 63 art 4 s 43,44