HB476 Alabama 2011 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jay Love
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2011
Title: Montgomery, motor vehicles, automated photographic speeding enforcement, authorized, procedures, posting of informational signs, adoption of municipal ordinances, civil fines, record keeping, municipal court jurisdiction, appeals, notice of violations, Montgomery Speed Limit Safety Act, Act 2009-740, 2009 Reg. Sess. am'd.
Summary: The Montgomery Speed Limit Safety Act lets Montgomery use automated speeding cameras to issue civil speeding fines, with a defined process for notices, hearings, and appeals.
What This Bill Does
It authorizes automated photographic speeding enforcement in the City of Montgomery as civil violations, with fines up to $100 plus court costs. The vehicle owner shown on the registration is presumptively liable, but there are procedures to contest liability through notices and adjudicative hearings in the Montgomery Municipal Court, with appeals to the Circuit Court for a trial de novo. It creates a non-criminal civil process (not a moving violation) with defined notice, evidence, and record-keeping rules, and requires public notice before deployment and ongoing data reporting. Enforcement is limited to specific areas (school zones, construction zones, and residential areas), and tampering with devices is prohibited, with certain defenses available to operators or owners.

Who It Affects
Vehicle owners (including those who rent or lease vehicles, where the renter is the liable owner) in Montgomery who are recorded speeding and may owe civil fines, respond to notices, or contest liability.
The City of Montgomery and its Montgomery Municipal Court (and the Circuit Court on appeal) which administer the civil process, issue notices, collect fines, and handle hearings and appeals.

Key Provisions
Automated speeding enforcement is authorized in Montgomery as civil violations, with fines not to exceed $100 and municipal court costs; a $10 fee is added to municipal costs to fund state record-keeping.
Notice and hearing process: the city mails a notice of violation within 30 days, the owner may contest liability by requesting a hearing within 15 days, and a finding of liability can be appealed to the Circuit Court for trial de novo.
Locations and deployment: enforcement may occur in school zones, road or construction zones, and residential neighborhoods; the city must publish a 30-day public notice before deployment and may use decoy devices and relocate sites as needed.
Evidence and procedures: a trained technician may affidavit to the system’s reliability; notices, images, and ownership records are admissible with limited foundation requirements; civil penalties are not criminal convictions and do not appear on criminal or driving records.
Defenses and remedies: affirmative defenses include compliance with police orders, operation as an authorized emergency vehicle, stolen vehicle or plate, improper signage, and other specified circumstances; owners can pursue action against the actual operator to recover the civil fine if paid.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Montgomery County