HB79 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris PringleRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Motor vehicles, crime of endangerment of a highway worker in a construction zone, created, exceptions, penalties

Summary

HB79 creates a new crime called endangerment of a highway worker in a construction zone and sets penalties based on harm to the worker.

What This Bill Does

HB79 would make it a crime to endanger highway workers in construction zones by actions such as speeding, failing to stop for flaggers, or driving through the zone in an inappropriate lane, and by assaulting or threatening a worker. It also covers several traffic offenses committed in the zone (like reckless driving, DUI, or texting while driving). Penalties depend on harm: no injury = Class C misdemeanor; injury = Class A misdemeanor; death = Class C felony. Conviction generally requires that workers were in the zone, with an exception for moving barriers, and it cannot convict if the act was caused by mechanical failure or someone else’s negligence; it includes a note about local funding rules and becomes law after the governor signs it.

Who It Affects

• Drivers/motorists in Alabama, who could face criminal penalties for endangering workers in construction zones through speeding, failing to stop, or other listed dangerous actions.
• Highway workers and construction crews, who would receive legal protection and can trigger criminal penalties when they are endangered in construction zones.

Key Provisions

• Defines endangerment of a highway worker in a construction zone as a crime and lists qualifying actions (e.g., exceeding speed limit by 15 mph or more, failing to stop for a flagman or traffic devices, driving through a zone using an inappropriate lane, assaulting/threatening a worker, or moving barriers without justification, and certain offenses committed in the zone).
• Penalties are tiered by harm: no injury — Class C misdemeanor; injury — Class A misdemeanor; death — Class C felony; with an exception that (except for the barrier-moving provision) the act must occur while workers are in the zone.
• In the zone, many listed offenses (reckless driving, DUI, texting, license offenses, leaving the scene, failing to aid, etc.) count toward endangerment; also any felony involving the use of a motor vehicle counts.
• The act cannot convict a person if the act resulted from mechanical failure of the offender’s vehicle or from the negligence of another person or a highway worker.
• The bill includes a constitutional note stating it is exempt from certain local-funding restrictions because it creates a new crime, and it becomes effective on the first day of the third month after the governor signs it.

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