HB18 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tommy Hanes

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Motor vehicles, commercial vehicles with three or more axels, interstate highways and four-lane highways, outside of municipal corporate limits, required to use right lanes under certain conditions, exception for passing, Sec. 32-5A-80 am'd.

Summary

HB18 would require commercial trucks with three or more axles to use the right lanes on interstate and U.S. highways, with specific exceptions and a brief enforcement grace period.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends Alabama law to require 3+ axle commercial motor vehicles to travel in the right lanes on interstates and U.S. highways, except when passing or under certain conditions. On four-lane interstates/highways with two lanes in each direction, these trucks must stay in the right lane and cannot stay in the left lane to pass for more than a mile unless traffic prevents passing. On highways with three or more lanes in each direction, they may not use the far left lane. It also lists exceptions for traffic conditions, weather, tolls, left turns, municipal limits, emergencies, and maintenance. There is a 60-day period after the act’s effective date during which law enforcement may issue only warning citations for violations of the lane rules.

Who It Affects

• Commercial motor vehicle operators/drivers of trucks with three or more axles: must operate in the right lanes on interstates and U.S. highways, with specified exceptions.
• General highway users and law enforcement: enforcement focus shifts to lane-usage rules for CMVs, with a 60-day warning period for violations.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 32-5A-80 to require CMVs with three or more axles on interstate and U.S. highways to travel in the right lanes unless overtaking or under certain exceptions.
• On four-lane interstates/highways with two lanes in each direction, CMVs with three or more axles must stay in the right lane and may not pass by moving to the left-most lane for more than one mile unless traffic prevents passing.
• On highways with three or more lanes in each direction, CMVs with three or more axles may not travel in the far left lane.
• Exceptions to the lane rules include: conditions requiring other lanes due to traffic, inclement weather, compliance with laws or traffic devices, making left turns, paying tolls, or operating within a municipality.
• Exemptions: authorized emergency vehicles and highway maintenance or construction vehicles are not subject to these lane restrictions.
• Section 2 provides a 60-day period after the act’s effective date during which law enforcement issues warning citations only for violations of the lane rules.
• Section 3 states the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor 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