HB462 Alabama 2015 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Artis McCampbellRepresentative
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2015
Title: Motor vehicles, drag racing, crime further defined, penalties increased, impoundment of vehicle and forfeiture for subsequent offenses, Sec. 32-5A-178 am'd.
Summary: HB462 would tighten drag racing rules on public highways by charging organizers and spectators, increasing penalties, and allowing impoundment, seizure, and potential forfeiture of vehicles for repeat offenses.
What This Bill Does
It defines drag racing and related activities, extends the illegal conduct to organizers and spectators, and creates a tiered penalty structure that increases with each conviction. It authorizes the court to suspend driving privileges and ban driving for set periods, and it allows law enforcement to impound a vehicle on a first offense and seize or forfeit vehicles for repeat offenses, with procedures for storage, liens, and proceeds. It also specifies that proceeds from forfeiture go to law enforcement-related purposes and sets an immediate effective date for the act.

Who It Affects
Drivers and other participants (including organizers and spectators) on public highways, who would face criminal liability, higher penalties, and possible license suspension.
Vehicle owners and law enforcement/local governments, due to impoundment/seizure/forfeiture of vehicles, storage fees, liens, and the use of forfeiture proceeds for law enforcement purposes.

Key Provisions
Defines 'drag race' and related terms and expands the prohibited activities to include organizers and spectators on public highways.
Imposes a tiered penalty system for drag racing: first conviction (5–90 days' imprisonment or $25–$500 fine, or both, with possible probation), second/subsequent convictions (10 days–6 months' imprisonment or $50–$500 fine, or both, plus probation), and third/subsequent convictions ($3,000 fine and six months' probation).
Allows the court to prohibit driving and suspend the driver's license for up to six months to one year after conviction.
Empowers impoundment of the vehicle for a first offense and, for repeat offenses, seizure and potential forfeiture of the vehicle, with established storage, lien, and sale procedures and handling of proceeds.
Provides statutory framework for forfeiture proceedings, directing proceeds to law enforcement use, and states the act's immediate effective date.

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