NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Ron Gant, R-Piperton, this week passed legislation to enhance the penalty for aggravated vehicular homicide and assault in Tennessee. House Bill 190 will lower the minimum alcohol concentration (BAC) in a person’s blood to be considered aggravated vehicular homicide or assault from 0.20 percent to 0.15 percent. “Drunk driving poses […]
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Ron Gant, R-Piperton, this week passed legislation to enhance the penalty for aggravated vehicular homicide and assault in Tennessee.
House Bill 190 will lower the minimum alcohol concentration (BAC) in a person’s blood to be considered aggravated vehicular homicide or assault from 0.20 percent to 0.15 percent.
“Drunk driving poses a grave threat to road safety and has had devastating consequences for far too many Tennessee families. Addressing this issue is vital to making our state safer,” Gant said. “This legislation seeks to deter people from getting behind the wheel intoxicated by ensuring the penalty fits the seriousness of the offense. I’m grateful to my colleagues for their unanimous support, and I look forward to continuing to promote safe driving practices to protect all Tennesseans.”
Aggravated vehicular homicide is a Class A felony where offenders face up to 60 years in prison. Currently, a person must have a 0.20 percent BAC or more when they kill another person while driving in addition to having a prior conviction for driving under the influence (DUI), boating under the influence (BUI), or vehicular assault.
Aggravated vehicular assault constitutes a Class C felony in Tennessee, which has a penalty of up to 15 years in prison. Someone who causes serious bodily injury to another person while driving with a BAC of at least 0.20 percent faces a charge of aggravated vehicular assault. They must also have a prior conviction for DUI or BUI.
One in three fatal crashes in Tennessee involve a person driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, costing the lives of 441 people in 2023. A recent Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) report required by legislation Gant passed in 2024 reveals that alcohol-related vehicular crash deaths increased by 36 percent between 2019 and 2023 in Tennessee, while injury crashes increased by 12 percent.
House Bill 190 now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law. It would take effect July 1.
State Rep. Ron Gant represents House District 94, which includes Fayette, McNairy and part of Hardeman counties.