Opinion ID: 1831644
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: DUI Manslaughter A Homicide Offense

Text: Applying the same common-sense approach to statutory interpretation that we used in Grappin to the DUI manslaughter statute at issue in this case, we believe that the Legislature clearly intended to permit multiple convictions based on multiple deaths arising from a single DUI incident. Our purpose in construing a statutory provision is to give effect to legislative intent. Legislative intent is the polestar that guides a court's statutory construction analysis. State v. J.M., 824 So.2d 105, 109 (Fla.2002). In attempting to discern legislative intent, we first look to the actual language used in the statute. Joshua v. City of Gainesville, 768 So.2d 432, 435 (Fla.2000). If the statutory language is unclear, we apply rules of statutory construction and explore legislative history to determine legislative intent. Id.; Weber v. Dobbins, 616 So.2d 956, 958 (Fla.1993). To discern legislative intent, courts must consider the statute as a whole, including the evil to be corrected, the language, title, and history of its enactment, and the state of law already in existence on the statute. State v. Anderson, 764 So.2d 848, 849 (Fla. 3d DCA 2000) (citing McKibben v. Mallory, 293 So.2d 48, 52 (Fla. 1974)). Despite its inclusion in chapter 316 with motor vehicle offenses, DUI manslaughter falls within the general category of homicide offenses. See Houser v. State, 474 So.2d 1193, 1196 (Fla.1985) (stating that the statutory element of the death of a victim places DUI manslaughter squarely within the scope of this state's regulation of homicide); McHugh v. State, 160 Fla. 823, 36 So.2d 786, 787 (1948) (stating that the gist of the DUI manslaughter offense is unlawful homicide). The first enactment of the DUI manslaughter statute in 1923 provided that violations of the statute were to be punished as provided by existing law relating to manslaughter. Ch. 9269, § 1, Laws of Fla. (1923). Prior to the 1923 legislation, there was no specific Florida statute dealing with manslaughter arising from the operation of motor vehicles, and these cases were prosecuted under the general manslaughter statute, which has existed, essentially in its present form, since 1868. The first manslaughter statute was enacted in 1868. It defined the offense as the killing of one human being. [5] When the homicide statute was revised in 1892, manslaughter was defined as the killing of a human being. [6] This statutory language, which has remained unchanged since 1892, [7] indicates a clear legislative intent that the offense of manslaughter should be punished based on the number of victims rather than by reference to the particular act leading to the deaths. Homicide statutes traditionally and uniformly impose punishment for each death caused by a defendant's criminal conduct. See, e.g., Lovette v. State, 636 So.2d 1304, 1305-06 (Fla.1994) (affirming three first-degree murder convictions where codefendants killed three people during a robbery); Rosier v. State, 343 So.2d 972, 973 (Fla. 1st DCA 1977) (permitting five counts of manslaughter by culpable negligence where five victims were killed in a single automobile crash). Homicides are punished based on the number of victims because the legislative purpose behind homicide statutes is to safeguard the lives of individuals. The Florida Legislature was guided by this purpose in enacting the DUI manslaughter statute; the unambiguous aim of the statute is to ensure the safety of individual citizens. Therefore, the gravamen of the offense of DUI manslaughter is not a traffic violation, but the killing of a human being. See Cannon v. State, 91 Fla. 214, 107 So. 360, 362 (1926) (stating that the felony of DUI manslaughter lies not in driving of an automobile negligently while intoxicated... but in the killing of a person). Our understanding of the Legislature's intent is buttressed by our decision in Melbourne where we rejected a double jeopardy challenge to multiple convictions for DUI manslaughter arising out of a single DUI incident. Melbourne, 679 So.2d at 765. The defendant in Melbourne killed two people and injured a third while driving under the influence. Id. Based on these facts, we upheld the defendant's convictions on two counts of DUI manslaughter and one count of DUI with serious bodily injury. Id. We reasoned that a DUI driver may sustain multiple convictions because the violation causes injury to each victim. Id. Our decision today is controlled by the same understanding of legislative intent reflected in our decision in Melbourne. As stated above, we believe that the Legislature clearly intended to allow separate convictions of DUI manslaughter for each death that occurs in a single DUI episode. It was this same understanding that enabled us to reject the double jeopardy challenge raised in Melbourne. See Boler v. State, 678 So.2d 319, 321 (Fla.1996) (explaining that the dispositive question in a double jeopardy analysis is the determination of legislative intent). Our understanding of legislative intent regarding DUI manslaughter has not changed since Melbourne. The legislative intent is to allow separate convictions for each victim. This understanding comports with the uniform authority of Florida case law interpreting the DUI manslaughter statute. See McHugh v. State, 160 Fla. 823, 36 So.2d 786, 787 (1948) (stating that the great weight of authority supports the view that under the DUI manslaughter statute [t]here is an offense for each unlawful homicide); State v. Wright, 546 So.2d 798, 799 n. 2 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989) (stating that the prosecution of multiple counts of DUI manslaughter arising from a single DUI incident is commonplace and not open to serious question); Pulaski v. State, 540 So.2d 193, 194 (Fla. 2d DCA 1989) (stating that one count of manslaughter is permissible for each death sustained during a drunk driving episode); State v. Naumowicz, 535 So.2d 702, 702 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988) (permitting separate counts of DUI manslaughter based on separate deaths in a single DUI incident); State v. Lowe, 130 So.2d 288, 289 (Fla. 2d DCA 1961) (holding that where two or more persons are killed by a single [DUI crash], there are as many separate and distinct offenses as there are persons killed by the unlawful act). Applying a common-sense approach to the DUI manslaughter statute leads to one inexorable conclusion. Any reasonable consideration of the language of the statute, the history of its enactment, the uniform statutory treatment of manslaughter offenses, and the case law in existence makes it clear that the legislative intent is that each death caused in a DUI crash is to be charged and punished as a separate offense.