SB71 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald O. Dial

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Municipalities with population less than 19,000, auth. to enforce speed limits on interstate highways, provision repealed, Sec. 32-5A-171 am'd.

Summary

SB71 would repeal key restrictions that prevent small municipalities from enforcing speed limits on interstate highways and from restricting enforcement within their police jurisdictions.

What This Bill Does

The bill repeals two prohibitions in Section 32-5A-171: one that bars law enforcement officers from small municipalities (fewer than 19,000 people) from enforcing general speed limits on interstate highways, and another that prevents enforcement within the municipality's police jurisdiction. If enacted, officers from these municipalities could enforce interstate speed limits and enforce speed limits inside their own police jurisdictions. The bill does not change the actual speed limits themselves; it changes who has the authority to enforce them.

Who It Affects

• Law enforcement officers of incorporated municipalities with fewer than 19,000 inhabitants would gain authority to enforce speed limits on interstate highways and within their police jurisdiction.
• Drivers and residents in Alabama, particularly those traveling on interstates within small municipalities, could be cited for speeding by officers from those municipalities.

Key Provisions

• Repeals the prohibition on enforcement of speed limits on interstate highways by municipal officers in towns with fewer than 19,000 inhabitants.
• Repeals the prohibition preventing municipal law enforcement from enforcing speed limits within the police jurisdiction of the municipality.
• Maintains the existing maximum speed limits and related framework for speed enforcement, with changes limited to who may enforce them.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Municipalities