The crime of nautical homicide becomes law, what it is and what the penalties are

The bill introducing the crime of nautical homicide has been approved. It provides for imprisonment of up to 7 years for anyone who, by driving a vessel, in failure to comply with navigation regulations, negligently causes the death of someone. The measure, which bears the signature of Fratelli d’Italia senators Alfredo Balboni and Guido Quintino Liris, was given the green light by the Chamber with 268 yes votes and only one against. Having already passed the Senate, it will therefore be law after publication in the Official Journal.

The aggravating circumstances

In the text, some aggravating circumstances are also foreseen such as having committed the crime while intoxicated; under the influence of narcotics; without having a license or if the boat, with which the death of a person was caused, is without insurance. The penalty drops by up to half if the death is not caused exclusively by the fault of the driver, while it can reach up to 18 years of imprisonment if, with the same criminal conduct, the death of more than one person is caused. The penalty increases, however, from one third to two thirds if the driver runs away after the accident. Anyone who negligently causes serious or very serious injuries, always in violation of the rules on the discipline of maritime or inland navigation, is punished with up to 3 years in prison. The same provision also provides for all cases in which flagrant arrest may be triggered. An arrest which however cannot occur if the driver stops immediately and provides or activates the necessary assistance and immediately makes himself available to the judicial police bodies.