HB80 Alabama 2015 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Phillip PettusRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2015
Title: Law enforcement officers, authorized to issue traffic citations at the scene of the crash for traffic offenses, under certain conditions, additional fines, Sec. 32-5-171 am'd.
Summary: HB80 lets certain Alabama police officers arrest drivers at the scene of a traffic crash and lets them issue traffic citations to drivers involved in crashes under specific conditions.
What This Bill Does
It amends Section 32-5-171 to allow a uniformed police officer, state trooper, county sheriff, or deputy, or municipal police officer to arrest a driver involved in a crash at the scene or shortly after if, after investigation and eyewitness information, there are reasonable grounds to believe the driver violated the law and contributed to the crash (especially if the driver is with medical personnel or trying to leave the scene); arrest may be without a warrant even if the violation wasn’t directly witnessed. It also allows an officer to issue a traffic citation after a crash if the officer has prima facie evidence and probable grounds that the driver committed offenses under Title 32, based on the officer’s investigation. These powers apply to officers defined in the bill and related sections.

Who It Affects
Drivers involved in traffic accidents who may be arrested on-scene without a warrant under certain conditions or may receive a post-crash traffic citation based on investigation and evidence.
Law enforcement officers (uniformed police, state troopers, county sheriffs and deputies, and local municipal police) who gain on-scene arrest authority and post-crash citation authority under specified conditions.

Key Provisions
Arrest authority at crash scene: officers may arrest a driver involved in a crash if there are reasonable grounds to believe the driver contributed to the crash by violating the law, particularly if the driver is in medical custody or actively leaving the scene, and may arrest without a warrant even if the violation wasn’t personally witnessed.
Post-crash citation authority: after a crash, an officer may issue a traffic citation if investigation shows prima facie evidence and probable grounds that the driver committed offenses under Title 32 (Chs 5, 5A, 6, 7, or 7A).

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