Transportation (Traffic Safety)

This bill creates a pilot program called the Alabama Work Zone Safety Act to test automated photographic speed enforcement cameras in one designated interstate highway work zone. The system would automatically capture images and speed data of vehicles traveling more than 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, and the state law enforcement agency would issue civil traffic citations to vehicle owners for violations. The program is designed as a temporary pilot that ends when the work zone is completed unless the legislature extends it, and agencies must submit reports to the legislature by March 2027 to evaluate its effectiveness in improving work zone safety.

This bill would allow municipal police officers in Alabama to enforce speed limits in areas they have jurisdiction over, even if those areas are outside the city's official borders. Currently, local police can only enforce speed limits within the corporate limits of their municipality, but this change would extend their authority to cover the broader police jurisdiction. The law would not alter existing speed limit numbers or enforcement procedures, only expanding the geographic area where local officers have the power to enforce them. This change affects municipalities that have police jurisdiction extending beyond their city limits, giving them more flexibility in managing traffic safety in surrounding areas.

This bill creates a pilot program in Alabama to test automated photographic speed enforcement cameras in highway work zones where construction or maintenance is actively underway. The system would automatically record images of vehicles and their license plates when they exceed the speed limit by 10 mph or more, allowing law enforcement to issue civil traffic citations rather than criminal charges. The Department of Transportation and Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency must collaborate to implement the program in one interstate work zone by October 2026, with full enforcement not beginning until November 2026 to allow for proper driver notification and system rollout. The bill also requires the agencies to submit progress reports to the Legislature by March 2027, including data on whether the cameras improve safety for workers and reduce speeding in construction zones.

SB 147, the Alabama Construction Zone Safety Act, would allow Alabama’s Department of Transportation to install photo speed cameras in construction zones on public highways. It requires the State Law Enforcement Agency to automatically issue civil fines (not criminal tickets) to vehicle owners caught speeding 10+ mph over the posted limit in these zones. The bill specifies that fines would be sent via mail to the vehicle’s registered owner, with options to pay or contest the citation within 60 days. This directly affects drivers whose vehicles are recorded speeding in construction zones, with penalties based on the vehicle’s registered owner, not the driver.

HB 1 would require first-time DUI offenders in Alabama to install and operate an ignition interlock device on their vehicle for six months instead of 90 days to avoid a 90-day driver's license suspension. Currently, offenders can avoid the suspension by using the device for 90 days, but this bill extends that requirement to six months. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of a first driving under the influence offense in Alabama. It amends Alabama Code Section 32-5A-191 to change the duration of the ignition interlock device requirement for first-time convictions.