HB359 Alabama 2013 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Low Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Elaine Beech
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2013
Title: Washington Co., sheriff, impoundment of motor vehicle used to transport drugs, fee, deposit, expenditure
Summary: HB359 allows the Washington County Sheriff to charge a $100 impoundment fee when a vehicle is impounded for transporting illegal drugs and directs the money into a Fund for law enforcement use.
What This Bill Does
It requires the owner or operator of a vehicle impounded for drug transportation within Washington County to pay a $100 fee. It creates the Sheriff's Vehicle Impoundment Fund in a Washington County bank and requires all collected fees to be deposited there. The sheriff must maintain an account of all money and transactions and the fund will be audited by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, with the audit copy provided to the sheriff within 30 days of completion. The money in the fund can be spent at the sheriff’s discretion for law enforcement purposes and is not meant to replace or diminish other sheriff income; any funds collected before the act became law must be deposited into the new fund.

Who It Affects
Vehicle owners or operators in Washington County whose vehicles are impounded for transporting illegal drugs—required to pay a $100 fee.
The Sheriff of Washington County and the sheriff’s office—responsible for collecting the fee, managing the fund, and deciding how the funds are used for law enforcement.

Key Provisions
Imposes a $100 motor vehicle impoundment fee on the owner or operator of a vehicle impounded because it was used to transport illegal drugs within Washington County.
Creates the Sheriff’s Vehicle Impoundment Fund in a Washington County bank and requires all collected fees to be deposited into this fund.
The sheriff must maintain an account of all monies and transactions and the fund is subject to an audit by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, with the audit copy provided to the sheriff within 30 days of completion.
Funds in the Impoundment Fund may be expended at the sheriff’s discretion for law enforcement purposes in the public interest and shall not diminish or replace other sheriff income.
Any existing proceeds derived from collection of these funds prior to the act’s effective date shall be deposited into the Sheriff's Vehicle Impoundment Fund.
The act becomes effective immediately following its passage and approval by the Governor.

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