SB417 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Hank Sanders

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Traffic violations, court authorized to order deferred payments or installments to pay fines or costs, court prohibited from suspending or revoking driver's license if violator making payments

Summary

The bill would require courts to offer deferred payment, installment plans, or community service for traffic fines if the defendant cannot pay within 30 days, and would protect a defendant's license status if payments are timely or service is performed, while banning license suspension solely for failing to appear.

What This Bill Does

If a traffic offender cannot pay within 30 days, the court must order payment through deferred payments or installments or require community service to satisfy the debt. The court may set the terms and require the defendant to inform the court of address changes, and may charge a one-time fee up to $10 to cover account management. If the defendant makes timely payments or completes community service, their driver's license may not be suspended or revoked. The bill also prohibits suspending or revoking a driver's license solely because of a failure to appear for a traffic violation.

Who It Affects

• Defendants convicted of traffic violations who cannot pay fines, penalties, or court costs within 30 days and would otherwise have to pay through deferred payments/installments or by performing community service.
• Defendants who are making timely payments or performing community service, whose driver's licenses would not be suspended or revoked under the bill.
• Drivers whose licenses would otherwise be suspended for failure to appear, since the bill bars license suspension solely on that ground.

Key Provisions

• Section 1(a): If a defendant cannot pay within 30 days, the court must order payment via deferred payments/installments or community service; the court may authorize the clerk to set the conditions; the defendant must inform the court of address changes; a one-time fee up to $10 may be charged to cover account management.
• Section 1(b): A defendant who makes timely payments or performs community service may not have their driver's license suspended or revoked.
• Section 2: A defendant's driver's license may not be suspended or revoked solely for failure to appear in connection with a traffic violation.
• Section 3: The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and 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

Licenses and Licensing