2018 Alabama Traffic Safety Legislation

  • December 12th, 2018

Enacted Bills:

  • Driving Under the Influence, Ignition Interlock Devices (SB1): An act, relating to persons charged with driving under the influence; to amend Section 32-5A-191 and Section 32-5A-191.4, Code of Alabama 1975, to further require and provide for the use of ignition interlock devices; to provide for the distribution of court fees certain conditions; to provide for ignition interlock services for the indigent under certain conditions; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 19001, as amended.
    • Status: Passed on March 29, 2018 – 100% progression
    • Action: 2018-03-29 – Forwarded to Governor an 1:00 P.M. on March 29, 2018
  • Motor Vehicles, Traffic Accident Reports (HB199): An act, to amend Section 32-10-7, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to motor vehicle accident reports; to provide that the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency may disclose motor vehicle accident reports under certain circumstances.
    • Status: Passed on March 28, 2018 – 100% progression
    • Action: 2018-03-28 – Forwarded to Governor at 4:30 P.M. on March 28, 2018
  • Driver’s Licenses, Drowsy Driving, Requirement that Manual and State Dept. of Edu. Driver’s Education Courses Include Information on Dangers (SB20): Under existing law, the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency may provide by rule for the topics covered on the driver’s license examination and the manner in which the examination is administered. Under existing rule, the Alabama Driver’s Manual contains information on the topics tested. This bill would require the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to include information on the dangers of drowsy driving in the Alabama Driver’s Manual and other licensing examination materials issued pursuant to its rules. The bill would also require the State Department of Education to include instruction on the dangers of drowsy driving in its approved driver’s education courses.
    • Status: Passed on March 27, 2018 – 100% progression
    • Action: 2018-03-27 – Assigned Act No. 2018-545
  • Motor Vehicles, Alabama Move Over Act (HB158): To amend Section 32-5A-58.2, Code of Alabama 1975, the Alabama Move Over Act, relating to motor vehicles; to further provide for when a driver of a motor vehicle must move over or slow down when approaching a vehicle on or along the road; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.
    • Status: Passed on March 22, 2018 – 100% progression
    • Action: 2018-03-22 – Delivered to Governor at 1:06 P.M. on March 22, 2018

Introduced Bills:

  • Drivers License, Suspension, Prohibited for Failure to Pay Fines, Fees, or Court Costs (SB167): This bill would prohibit the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency from suspending the driver’s license of an individual for failure to pay a fine, penalty, fee, or court cost for convictions of or for failure to appear on charges arising from certain traffic violations.
    • Status: Introduced on January 11, 2018 – 25% progression
    • Action: 2018-03-13 – Further Consideration
  • Safety Belts, Fine Increased for Person Riding in Front Seat Without Seat Belts (HB160): Existing law impose a fine on a person who rides in the front seat of a passenger car without wearing a safety belt. This bill would increase the fine for a set belt violation.
    • Status: Introduced on January 11, 2018 – 25% progression
    • Action: 2018-02-01 – Pending Third Reading on Day 9 Favorable from Public Safety and Homeland Security
  • Motorcycle and Bicycles, Red Lights, Authorized to Disregard Traffic-Control Signal and Proceed Under Certain Conditions (HB216): This bill would allow the driver of a motorcycle or bicycle to disregard a traffic-control signal and proceed through an intersection controlled by a traffic-control signal under certain conditions.
    • Status: Introduced on January 16, 2018 – 25% progression
    • Action: 2018-01-16 -Read for the First Time and Referred to the House of Representatives Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Engrossed Bills: 

  • Traffic Stops, Racial Profiling by Law Enforcement Officers, Prohibited, Written Policies, Forms for Statistics, and Reports to Attorney General Required, Provision for Complaints (SB84): Existing law does not require the keeping of statistics to determine if traffic stops are being made solely on the basis of the racial or ethnic status of persons. This bill would define racial profiling and would prohibit a law enforcement officer from engaging in racial profiling. This bill would require county and municipal police departments and the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to adopt written policies to prohibit racial profiling; would require the adoption of the forms to be used for statistics of traffic stops; would provide for complains; and would require reports to be filed in the Office of the Attorney General.
    • Status: Engrossed on January 16, 2018 – 50% progression
    • Action: 2018-03-15 – Pending Third Reading on Day 21 Favorable from Judiciary