HB183 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Lesley Vance

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

School buses, automated civil enforcement of school bus violations, county and city boards of education may initiate and enforce, district and municipal courts, county and city law enforcement.

Summary

HB183 would let counties and municipalities use automated cameras to civilly enforce school bus stop violations, making vehicle owners responsible for fines and using local courts to collect them.

What This Bill Does

It would authorize boards of education to approve automated school bus enforcement and allow private vendors to install and manage the devices. The bill creates a civil penalty system with fines up to $250 issued by mail, with the vehicle owner presumed responsible but able to transfer responsibility or contest. Civil notices would be adjudicated in district or municipal courts, with procedures for payment, transfer, or challenge; images would be destroyed after set time periods; and the fines would not be considered criminal and would not affect driving records or insurance rates. Unpaid fines could trigger license, title, or driver’s license restrictions, and fines would be distributed to local governments, the school system, and state highway and safety programs.

Who It Affects

• Vehicle owners (and anyone who operated the vehicle at the time) — may be held civilly liable for the fine; can transfer responsibility or contest; unpaid fines could affect license, title, and driving privileges.
• Local governments and school systems (county/municipal boards of education, law enforcement, district and municipal courts, and related state agencies) — would implement the automated enforcement program, collect fines, and distribute funds to the county or municipality, the school system, the State Department of Education, and the Alabama Department of Public Safety.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes automated devices to detect school bus violations and permits civil enforcement through a board-approved program.
• Owner presumed responsible for the civil fine, with procedures to transfer responsibility or contest the violation.
• Civil fines may be up to $250; fines are distributed as 40% to the local government, 40% to the school system, 10% to the State Department of Education, and 10% to the Alabama Department of Public Safety.
• Notice of violation mailed to the owner with required details; images shown are of the vehicle and license plate only, reviewed and certified by a law enforcement officer, no driver faces.
• Images and records are destroyed after set time periods; the process includes appeals to the circuit court and a preponderance-of-evidence standard.
• Unpaid fines can affect vehicle license issuance/renewal, title transfer, and driver’s license; no criminal penalties; fines are not added to driving history or insurance premiums.

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

Subjects

School Bus Violations