HB105 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Kerry Rich

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Motor vehicles, pickup trucks, riding in bed of by person under certain age, prohibited, exceptions, phased in implementation, penalties

Summary

HB105 would ban letting someone 19 or younger ride in the bed of a pickup on major roads, with certain exceptions, a small fine, and a phased rollout.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill would prohibit drivers from allowing any person under 19 to ride in the unenclosed bed of a pickup on major roads. It provides exceptions for agricultural use, permitted activities like parades or hayrides, and emergency situations. Violations carry a fine of up to $50, and the law includes a 12-month warning period with verbal warnings only before full enforcement begins; it also defines what counts as a major thoroughfare.

Who It Affects

• Operators/drivers of pickup trucks or similar vehicles, who would be prohibited from allowing under-19 passengers to ride in the bed on major thoroughfares and who could be fined for violations (subject to the exemptions).
• People under 19 who might ride in the bed of a pickup, who would be restricted from doing so on major thoroughfares by the new rule.

Key Provisions

• No operator shall allow a person under 19 to ride in the unenclosed bed or portion of a pickup or similar vehicle on a major thoroughfare.
• Major thoroughfare is defined to include state and federal highways, arterial roads, and high-capacity urban roads that move traffic between centers.
• Exceptions: (a) agricultural activities, (b) permits for parades or hayrides authorized by local government, and (c) emergency situations.
• Penalty: violation may result in a fine of up to $50; violation does not provide probable cause for vehicle search.
• Implementation: there is a 12-month warning period after the act becomes law during which only verbal warnings are issued; after the warning period, the act is in full effect.
• Effective date: the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it is passed and signed into law.
• The bill states it is exempt from Amendment 621’s local-funds requirement because it creates a new crime, and thus does not require a local-governmental vote or local funding approval.

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