SB173 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Dick Brewbaker

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Motor vehicles, Alabama Move Over Act, garbage, trash, refuse, or recycling collection vehicles included, Sec. 32-5A-58.2 am'd.

Summary

The bill expands the Alabama Move Over Act to require drivers to yield the right of way and slow down or move over for garbage, trash, refuse, or recycling collection vehicles actively collecting on roadways.

What This Bill Does

It adds garbage/trash/recycling collection vehicles to the types of roadside vehicles that trigger move-over or slow-down duties. It sets lane-changing or speed-reduction rules for multi-lane and two-lane roads, with specific speed reductions and lane-shift requirements. It creates fines for violations and requires a Department of Public Safety educational campaign and inclusion in driver education materials. The act also clarifies that it does not relieve emergency vehicle drivers from safety duties and provides an effective date after passage.

Who It Affects

• Drivers of motor vehicles on Alabama roads must observe new move-over/speed-reduction rules when encountering collection vehicles and pedestrians working roadside.
• Garbage, trash, refuse, or recycling collection workers gain enhanced safety protections as motorists must yield and slow down or change lanes when they are actively collecting or signaling to re-enter traffic.

Key Provisions

• Inclusion of garbage, trash, refuse, or recycling collection vehicles in the Alabama Move Over Act (Section 32-5A-58.2).
• On multi-lane roads: vacate the lane closest to the collection vehicle or slow to at least 15 mph below the posted speed limit if not safe to move over.
• On two-lane roads: move as far away as possible within the lane and slow to 15 mph below the posted limit if the limit is 25 mph or higher, or 10 mph below if the limit is 20 mph or less.
• Fines for moving-over violations: $25 first offense, $50 second offense, $100 for third or subsequent offenses.
• Additional requirement: yield the right-of-way to pedestrian workers and to collection vehicles that are stopped or re-entering traffic.
• Up to $50 fine for violations related to pedestrian/collection-vehicle yield rules.
• Department of Public Safety must run an educational awareness campaign and include information in driver education materials after January 1, 2010.
• Notwithstanding these rules, the bill emphasizes safety for emergency vehicles; it does not relieve emergency drivers of due regard for safety.
• Effective date: the first day of the third month after passage and 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