Veterans Benefits Matters - Claim Servicers - Requirements
HB 977, titled "Jamari’s Law," increases criminal penalties for manslaughter by vehicle or vessel in Maryland. The bill raises the maximum imprisonment term for a first offense from 10 years to 20 years and increases the maximum for a subsequent offense from 15 years to 30 years. It does not change the underlying offense definition, which remains causing another person’s death through grossly negligent driving, operating, or controlling a vehicle or vessel.
The bill also leaves intact the existing fine structure, allowing up to $5,000 for a first conviction and up to $10,000 for a repeat conviction. It retains the current rules for charging documents and the list of prior offenses that can trigger enhanced penalties, including certain other violent or traffic-related offenses and comparable out-of-state or federal convictions. The act is set to take effect October 1, 2025.
HB 977 amends Criminal Law § 2-209 of the Maryland Code by increasing sentencing exposure for manslaughter by vehicle or vessel and for repeat offenders. The bill affects prosecutors, defendants, courts, and victims’ families by making this offense punishable by longer prison terms while leaving the elements of the crime and charging requirements unchanged. It is a targeted sentencing change rather than a broader rewrite of vehicular homicide law.
The available context shows no recorded committee testimony or vote history, so there is no documented debate to gauge directly. Based on the bill text, the measure appears to reflect a punitive approach to grossly negligent vehicular deaths and likely carries a public-safety and victims’ rights rationale. Because the bill is named "Jamari’s Law," it may also be intended as a memorial or response to a specific incident, which often signals support for stronger penalties.
The main point of contention is likely the increase in maximum incarceration terms, especially the doubling of the first-offense cap and the substantial increase for repeat offenders. Supporters would likely argue that harsher penalties better reflect the seriousness of deaths caused by gross negligence and provide greater accountability, while opponents may question whether longer sentences improve deterrence or whether the existing penalties were already sufficient. No specific stakeholder positions are provided in the available materials.