客观归责理论与自动驾驶交通肇事刑事责任的归属

The Attribution of Criminal Liability for Traffic Accident Caused by Automatic Driving within the Framework of Objective Imputation Theory

因自动驾驶导致交通肇事该如何承担相应的刑事责任逐渐成为新近刑法学界关注的重点。自动驾驶汽车作为人工智能深入发展的智能化产品,其功能性特征与构成犯罪主体的自然人属性存在本质区别,且不具备受刑能力导致其最终无法承担刑事责任,所以在我国承认自动驾驶汽车的犯罪主体资格并无实定法上的依据,因而不具有合理性。对于自动驾驶所导致的危害结果并非均是刑法所关注的重点,在处罚依据上可以引入客观归责理论,合理区分归因与归责的同时,在判断路径中还需要层层筛选、判断风险的类别以及来源。在“驾驶辅助”以及“半自动驾驶”阶段,系统设计者以及驾驶者均有可能成为风险的制造者,而在“完全自动驾驶”阶段则排除了驾驶者的风险制造,风险的制造以及实现均落在系统的设计者身上。但是即便如此,也不能就此肯定上述主体均应构成犯罪。在具体的归责之中引入客观归责理论,通过客观归责理论的阶层性判断,不仅有利于准确定性,而且还能进一步限缩处罚范围。

The way to attribute the corresponding criminal liability for traffic accidents caused by automatic driving has gradually come into focus in the criminal law academia.As an intelligent product developed by artificial intelligence,self-driving vehicle is fundamentally different in its functional characteristics from the attributes of natural persons who constitute the subject of crime.As it does not have the capacity to be subject to punishment,automatic driving vehicle is ultimately unable to bear criminal responsibility.Due to lack of positive law basis,it is unreasonable to recognize the criminal subject qualification of self-driving vehicle in China.The harmful results caused by automatic driving do not fall under the focus of criminal law.Regarding punishment,the objective imputation theory can be introduced.While reasonably distinguishing attribution and imputation,it is also necessary to screen and judge the types and sources of risks in the process of judgment.In the case of“driving assistance”and“semi-automatic driving”,both the system designer and the driver may become the risk makers,while in the case of“fully automatic driving”,the risk caused by the driver is excluded,and the cause and realization of the risk fall onto the system designer.But even so,it cannot be confirmed that the above subjects should all be subject to a crime charge.Introducing the objective imputation theory into the specific imputation,assisted with the hierarchical judgment within the objective imputation theory,is not only conducive to accurate attribution,but also further narrows down the scope of punishment.