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Florida Statute 782.072 - Full Text and Legal Analysis Florida Statute 782.072 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
Fla. Stat. § 782.072 (2026) Copy Cite Official Site Syfertize CourtListener Amendments
782.072 Vessel homicide.
(1) As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Unborn child” has the same meaning as in s. 775.021(5)(e).
(b) “Vessel homicide” means the killing of a human being, including the death of an unborn child caused by injury to the mother, by the operation of a vessel as defined in s. 327.02 by another in a reckless manner likely to cause the death of, or great bodily harm to, another.
(2) Vessel homicide is:
(a) A felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(b) A felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if:
1. At the time of the accident, the person knew, or should have known, that the accident occurred; and
2. The person failed to give information and render aid as required by s. 327.30(1).

This subsection does not require that the person knew that the accident resulted in injury or death.

(3) A felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if the person has a prior conviction under this section, s. 316.193(3)(c)3., 1s. 327.35(3)(a)3.c., or s. 782.071.
History.s. 1, ch. 87-20; s. 15, ch. 96-330; s. 2, ch. 99-153; s. 7, ch. 2025-121; s. 11, ch. 2025-197.
1Note.Substituted by the editors for a reference to s. 327.35(3)(c)3., as added by s. 7, ch. 2025-121, to conform to the redesignation of existing subunits in s. 327.35 by s. 6, ch. 2025-197.

Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 782.072

M = misdemeanor · F = felony · degree: F=1st S=2nd T=3rd
§782.072(1)HOMICIDE-NEGLIG MANSLRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 10749F · 2nd
§782.072(2)HOMICIDE-NEGLIG MANSLRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 10750F · 1st
§782.072(2a)HOMICIDE-NEGLIG MANSLOPERATE VESSEL RECKLESSLY HOMICIDEF · 2nd
§782.072(2b)HOMICIDE-NEGLIG MANSLVESSEL FAIL TO GIVE INFORMATION AND RENDER AIDF · 1st
§782.072(3)HOMICIDE-NEGLIG MANSLNEGLIGENT MANSLAUGHTER VESSEL PREV CONVF · 1st

Cases Citing F.S. 782.072

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·In Re Stand. Jury Inst. in Crim. Cases-Report No. 2008-05, 994 So. 2d 1038 (Fla. 2008).

Cited 17 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 33 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 836, 2008 Fla. LEXIS 1974, 2008 WL 4587203

...---------------------------------- Assault 784.011 8.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Comment This instruction was adopted in 1981 and amended in 1997 and 2008. 7.9 VEHICULAR OR VESSEL HOMICIDE § 782.071 or § 782.072, Fla....
...(Defendant) operated the [motor vehicle] [vessel] in a reckless manner likely to cause the death of or great bodily harm to another person. An intent by the defendant to harm or injure the victim or any other person is not an element to be proved by the State. *1042 Enhanced penalty. § 782.071(1)(b) or § 782.072(2), Fla....
..."Vessel" is synonymous with boat and includes every description of watercraft, barge, and airboat, other than a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water. Lesser Included Offenses VEHICULAR OR VESSEL HOMICIDE — 782.071 or 782.072 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CATEGORY ONE CATEGORY TWO FLA....
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Adopted(citing case) (2019)
phrase: "adopted in"
Adopted(citing case) (2018)
phrase: "adopted in"
Cited as authority(citing case) (2017)
phrase: "rule_authority"
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·In Re Jury Inst. in Crim. Cases-No. 2006-1, 946 So. 2d 1061 (Fla. 2006).

Cited 11 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 2006 WL 3741064

...-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- None Vehicular homicide 782.071 7.9 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vessel homicide 782.072 7.9 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Nonhomicide lessers) 777.04(1) 5.1 Attempt ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------...
...---------- Comment This instruction was adopted in 1981 and amended in 1985 [477 So.2d 985], 1987 [508 So.2d 1221], 1989, 1992 [603 So.2d 1175], 1995 [665 So.2d 212], and 1998 [723 So.2d 123], and 2006. 7.9 VEHICULAR OR VESSEL HOMICIDE § 782.071 or § 782.072, Fla....
...(Defendant) operated the [motor vehicle] [vessel] in a reckless manner likely to cause the death of or great bodily harm to another person. An intent by the defendant to harm or injure the victim or any other person is not an element to be proved by the State. Enhanced penalty. § 782.071(1)(b) or § 782.072(2), Fla....
..., used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water. Lesser Included Offenses ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VEHICULAR OR VESSEL HOMICIDE—782.071 or 782.072 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CATEGORY ONE CATEGORY TWO FLA....
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Cited as authority(citing case) (2020)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Adopted(citing case) (2019)
phrase: "adopted in"
Cited as authority(citing case) (2017)
phrase: "rule_authority"
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·In Re Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases-report No. 2014-08, 176 So. 3d 938 (Fla. 2015).

Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 2015 WL 5853925

...information, we amend the standard jury instructions as proposed by the Committee, with one modification discussed below, and authorize them for publication and use. Section 782.071, Florida Statutes (2014), defines the offense of Vehicular Homicide, while section 782.072, Florida Statutes (2014), defines the offense of Vessel Homicide....
...Liaison, Office of the State Courts Administrator, Tallahassee, Florida, for Petitioner -5- APPENDIX 7.9 VEHICULAR OR VESSEL HOMICIDE § 782.071 or § 782.072, Fla....
...However, the reckless operation of a [motor vehicle] [vessel] requires the State to prove more than a failure to use ordinary care. A “reckless manner” means in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. Enhanced penalty. § 782.071(1)(b) or § 782.072(2), Fla....
...ion of watercraft, barge, and airboat, other than a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water. Lesser Included Offenses VEHICULAR OR VESSEL HOMICIDE – 782.071 or 782.072 CATEGORY ONE CATEGORY TWO FLA....
0 red0 yellow6 green0 procedural
Adopted(citing case) (2019)
phrase: "adopted in"
Adopted(citing case) (2018)
phrase: "adopted in"
Adopted(citing case) (2018)
phrase: "adopted in"
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·In Re: Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases-Report 2018-09., 262 So. 3d 59 (Fla. 2019).

Published | Supreme Court of Florida

...2d 1175], 1995 [665 So. 2d 212], 1998 [723 So. 2d 123], 2006 [946 So. 2d 1061], 2009 [6 So. 3d 574], 2016 [190 So. 3d 1055], and 2017 [211 So. 3d 995], and 2019. 7.9 VEHICULAR OR VESSEL HOMICIDE § 782.071 or § 782.072, Fla....
...“Willful” means intentional, knowing and purposeful. “Wanton” means with a conscious and intentional indifference to consequences and with the knowledge that damage is likely to be done to persons or property. Enhanced penalty. § 782.071(1)(b) or § 782.072(2), Fla....
...e vessel is underway upon the waters of this state, or to control or steer a vessel being towed by another vessel upon the waters of the state. Lesser Included Offenses VEHICULAR OR VESSEL HOMICIDE – 782.071 or 782.072 CATEGORY ONE CATEGORY TWO FLA....
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Cited as authority(citing case) (2019)
phrase: "rule_authority"
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Marquez v. State, 563 So. 2d 152 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1990).

Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 1990 Fla. App. LEXIS 4053, 1990 WL 73198

...3 Therefore, by analogy we find that it was the legislature’s intent that vessel homicide be a lesser included offense of manslaughter. Defendant's remaining points lack merit. Affirmed. . The defendant is the first person to be charged under this statute. Section 782.072, Florida Statute (1987), went into effect on October 1, 1987....
...(2) Any person who commits vehicular homicide and willfully fails to stop or comply with the requirements of s. 316.027(1) is guilty of a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. § 782.071, Fla.Stat. (1987). The vessel homicide statute provides as follows: 782.072 Vessel homicide.— (1) "Vessel homicide” is the killing of a human being by the operation of a vessel as defined in s....
...775.083, or s. 775.084. (2) Any person who commits vessel homicide and willfully fails to stop or comply with the requirements of s. 327.030(4) is guilty of a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.-084. § 782.072, Fla.Stat....

This Florida statute resource is curated by Graham W. Syfert, Esq., a Jacksonville, Florida criminal defense attorney (Florida Bar No. 39104). Attorney Syfert regularly handles Chapter 782 matters in the context of homicide and serious felony defense and represents clients throughout Northeast Florida. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.