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Fla. Stat. § 782.072 (2025)

Vessel homicide.

✓ 2025 Florida Statutes: through the 2025 Regular Session (some sections already show 2026 laws)
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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
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases, 1990–2019 · leading case: In re Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases-report No. 2014-08, 176 So. 3d 938 (Fla. 2015).
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In re Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases-report No. 2014-08, 176 So. 3d 938 (Fla. 2015). · cites it 6× “071 or § 782.072, Fla. Stat. To prove the crime of [Vehicular] [Vessel] Homicide, the Statemust prove more than a faiIure-to-u.”
In re Stand. Jury Inst. in Crim. Cases-Report No. 2008-05, 994 So. 2d 1038 (Fla. 2008). · cites it 4× “071 or § 782.072, Fla. Stat. To prove the crime of [Vehicular] [Vessel] Homicide, the State must prove more than a failure to use ordinary care, and must prove the following three elements beyond a reasonable doubt: 1.”
In re Jury Inst. in Crim. Cases-No. 2006-1, 946 So. 2d 1061 (Fla. 2006). · cites it 4× “The death was caused by the operation of a [motor vehicle] [vessel] by (defendant). 3. (Defendant) operated the [motor vehicle] [vessel] in a reckless manner likely to cause the death of or great bodily harm to another person.”
In re Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases-Report 2018-09., 262 So. 3d 59 (Fla. 2019). · cites it 4× “Element 1a applies to either Vehicular Homicide or Vessel Homicide. Element 1b applies to Vehicular Homicide only.”
Marquez v. State, 563 So. 2d 152 (Fla. 3d DCA 1990). · cites it 3× “…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. (1987).”
782.072(2): 4 cases
In re Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases-report No. 2014-08, 176 So. 3d 938 (Fla. 2015). “071 or § 782.072, Fla. Stat. To prove the crime of [Vehicular] [Vessel] Homicide, the Statemust prove more than a faiIure-to-u.”
In re Stand. Jury Inst. in Crim. Cases-Report No. 2008-05, 994 So. 2d 1038 (Fla. 2008). “071 or § 782.072, Fla. Stat. To prove the crime of [Vehicular] [Vessel] Homicide, the State must prove more than a failure to use ordinary care, and must prove the following three elements beyond a reasonable doubt: 1.”
In re Jury Inst. in Crim. Cases-No. 2006-1, 946 So. 2d 1061 (Fla. 2006). “The death was caused by the operation of a [motor vehicle] [vessel] by (defendant). 3. (Defendant) operated the [motor vehicle] [vessel] in a reckless manner likely to cause the death of or great bodily harm to another person.”
In re Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases-Report 2018-09., 262 So. 3d 59 (Fla. 2019). “Element 1a applies to either Vehicular Homicide or Vessel Homicide. Element 1b applies to Vehicular Homicide only.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.

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.