SB35 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Linda Coleman-MadisonSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Motor vehicles, child passenger restraints, Alabama Head Injury Foundation, 20 percent of funds distributed to Alabama Head Injury Foundation earmarked to cover administrative costs, Sec. 32-5-222 am'd.

Summary

SB35 changes how the $15 child restraint violation fine is split, allocating 20% to admin costs and 80% to vouchers, while clarifying restraint rules and enforcement.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends the law to have 20 percent of the $15 fine go to cover administrative costs of the program, with the remaining 80 percent used to issue vouchers for child restraints to low-income families. It preserves the required child restraint standards by age/weight (rear-facing infant seats, forward-facing seats, boosters, and seat belts) and the $25 per-offense fine. It also outlines oversight, penalties, and exemptions to ensure program administration and reporting.

Who It Affects

• Parents or guardians who transport children in motor vehicles and could be fined for not using proper child restraints.
• Limited-income families who receive vouchers for size-appropriate child restraints, and the Alabama Head Injury Foundation that administers the program and uses funds for administration.

Key Provisions

• Twenty percent of the $15 fine is earmarked to cover the costs of administering the program; eighty percent is used to distribute vouchers for child restraints to families of limited income, with the foundation administering the program free of charge.
• Restraint requirements remain: infant seats rear-facing until at least one year or 20 pounds; forward-facing seats until at least five years or 40 pounds; boosters until six years; and seat belts until 15 years.
• A $25 fine is charged per offense; charges may be dismissed by the judge if the restraint is proven; taxis and vehicles with 11 or more seats are exempt from these provisions.
• The Alabama Examiners of Public Accounts audits the funds and the Alabama Department of Public Safety reports related statistics; the Department also applies a point system for violations (1 point for first offense, 2 points for subsequent offenses).

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

Subjects

Motor Vehicles