SB558 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Law enforcement, written report required of accident confidential except for court order, Sec. 32-10-7

Summary

SB558 would keep motor vehicle accident reports confidential and restrict commercial use, while allowing litigation parties to access the reports with proper filing.

What This Bill Does

The bill strengthens confidentiality for motor vehicle accident reports and prohibits releasing them for commercial purposes. It creates a new way for parties involved in related litigation to obtain the report without a subpoena: they can file a request with the Department of Public Safety that includes the first page of a clerk-stamped complaint naming all parties. The request must accompany that complaint page; otherwise, access remains limited to existing listed recipients and must usually be obtained via subpoena or court order. The bill preserves existing permissible disclosures (to accident parties, guardians, estates, insurers or their designees, and attorneys) and adds this litigation-specific access pathway.

Who It Affects

• Parties to motor vehicle accidents and their attorneys, who gain a new, subpoena-free way to access accident reports in related litigation by filing a DPS request with the complaint page.
• Insurance companies and their designees, who may continue to receive reports for insurance-related purposes as allowed by law, but not for commercial use.
• Department of Public Safety and law enforcement officers who prepare and forward accident reports, as they implement the confidentiality and access rules.

Key Provisions

• Confidentiality: all written accident reports are confidential and may not be released for commercial purposes.
• Access without subpoena for litigation: a party to litigation may obtain the report from the Department of Public Safety without a subpoena by filing a request that includes the first page of a clerk-stamped complaint naming all parties.
• Complaint requirement: the request must include the first page of the clerk-stamped complaint naming all litigation parties.
• Permitted recipients: reports may still be released to accident parties, guardians of minors who are parties, personal representatives or estate representatives in death cases, insurers or their designees for insurance purposes, and attorneys of the parties.
• Effective date: the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and gubernatorial 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

Law Enforcement