SB436 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

J.T. WaggonerSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Motor vehicles, seat belts, violations, fines increased, distrib. Secs. 32-5B-5, 32-5B-8 am'd.

Summary

SB436 raises fines for second and subsequent seat belt violations and explains how the money from those fines is distributed, while adding reporting and police-procedure safeguards.

What This Bill Does

It amends existing seat belt laws to set higher fines for second or later offenses and to specify how the fines are divided. A $5 portion of every fine goes to the Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund; after that, for first offenses 60% goes to the Department of Public Safety’s Law Enforcement Division and 40% to the State General Fund, while for second or subsequent offenses the remaining amount goes to the State General Fund. The bill also prohibits a search or inspection solely because of a belt violation, requires DOT/police agencies to collect and report minority-related traffic-stop data monthly to the DPS and the Attorney General, and states that court costs shall not be assessed on convictions. It becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

Who It Affects

• Vehicle occupants (drivers and front-seat passengers) who violate seat belt laws, especially those facing second or later offenses, by facing higher fines and new allocation rules for the collected money.
• Law enforcement agencies, the Department of Public Safety, and state funds (Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund and the State General Fund) through mandated distribution of fines and required reporting, plus new policing safeguards.

Key Provisions

• Fines for seat belt violations are increased: up to $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second offense, and $75 for a third or subsequent offense, with the violation not constituting probable cause for vehicle search.
• A portion of each fine, $5, must be distributed to the Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund.
• After the $5 deduction, first offenses allocate 60% of the remaining fine to the Department of Public Safety, Law Enforcement Division, and 40% to the State General Fund; second or subsequent offenses allocate the remaining funds to the State General Fund.
• A law enforcement officer may not search or inspect a vehicle solely because of a belt violation.
• State, county, and municipal police departments must maintain and monthly report minority-related traffic-stop statistics to the Department of Public Safety and the Attorney General.
• No court costs may be assessed on convictions under this section.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Motor Vehicles