SB73 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Scott Beason

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Motor vehicles, licensing and registration of trucks and truck tractors, motor vehicle wreckers (tow trucks), licensing and registration based on gross vehicle weight not to include vehicle towed, Sec. 40-12-248 am'd.

Summary

SB73 would require tow trucks (wreckers) to be licensed and registered based on the wrecker's own gross vehicle weight, not the weight of any vehicle it tows.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends Alabama law to base wrecker licensing on the wrecker's gross vehicle weight (GVW), defined as the empty weight plus the heaviest load, including the heaviest trailer when in a combination. It creates base and additional fee schedules tied to GVW and provides special fee caps for farmers and forest product transport. It also requires an affidavit declaring the GVW when applying for license, allows weight increases by filing a new affidavit and paying the difference, and generally prohibits decreasing weight except once per year; the act takes effect immediately after passage.

Who It Affects

• Tow truck/wrecker operators and towing businesses: licensing and registration fees would be determined by the wrecker's GVW rather than the weight of vehicles towed.
• Farmers and farm truck operators: reduced fee caps for farm trucks based on weight, with a limit on the number of trucks at the reduced rate and standard weight-based fees for additional trucks.
• Forest product transporters: fee caps for trucks used to move forest products (e.g., up to $40 for certain weights, up to $65 for heavier weights).
• Certificated motor carriers operating within 15 miles of the domicile municipality: a fixed $300 total annual license/registration fee for each qualifying truck tractor.
• Owners of pickup trucks used for personal or agricultural use: licensing based on vehicle weight only, not the heaviest cargo load.
• Owners of self-propelled campers/house cars and other trucks: subject to the weight-based base and additional fee schedules with specific weight bands and caps.

Key Provisions

• Wrecker licensing and registration must be based on the wrecker's gross vehicle weight (GVW) and not on the weight of any vehicle towed.
• GVW is defined as the empty weight of the wrecker plus the heaviest load to be carried; for combinations, the GVW includes the heaviest trailer and the heaviest load.
• Base and additional license/registration fees are set by weight bands, with a Schedule of Base Amounts and a Schedule of Additional Amounts; some weights have higher or special charges.
• Farmers may pay reduced total annual fees for farm trucks up to certain weights, with caps ($30 for ≤30,000 pounds; $85 for >30,000–42,000; $250 for 80,001+ pounds) and only one truck tractor at the reduced rate; other trucks follow standard schedules.
• Forest products transport has specific fee caps based on weight (e.g., up to $40 for certain weights, up to $65 for heavier weights).
• A certificated motor carrier operating a truck tractor within 15 miles of its domiciled municipality pays a fixed $300 annual license/registration fee for that vehicle.
• Pick-up trucks used for personal or agricultural use are licensed based on gross vehicle weight only, excluding the weight of loads and trailers.
• An affidavit declaring the GVW must be filed with the appropriate local official; licenses are issued for the declared GVW and can be increased by filing a new affidavit and paying the difference; weight cannot be decreased except once per year when tags are renewed.
• The act becomes effective immediately after passage and governor's approval.

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