HB602 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris SellsRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Safety belts, fine increased for person riding in front seat without seat belts, distribution, Secs. 32-5B-5, 32-5B-8 am'd.

Summary

HB602 would raise the front-seat safety belt fine and change how the money collected from fines is distributed to fund belt education and general law enforcement activities.

What This Bill Does

It increases the maximum fine for riding in the front seat without a safety belt to up to $100. It specifies how the fine money is distributed: 60% goes to the Department of Public Safety and 40% goes to the State General Fund, plus $75 of each fine is allocated to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ASLEA) for safety belt education (up to $150,000 per fiscal year) with the remainder used for law enforcement purposes. It also stops court costs from being charged on a belt-violation conviction, prohibits searches solely because of a belt violation, and requires monthly reporting of minority traffic-stop statistics to the Department of Public Safety and the Attorney General. The changes take effect October 1, 2017.

Who It Affects

• Drivers and front-seat passengers who do not wear a safety belt in a passenger car (they would face a higher fine).
• Law enforcement agencies (Department of Public Safety and Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency) that collect and allocate the fines, and the State General Fund that receives a portion.
• Minorities and the general public, through the requirement to report monthly statistics on traffic stops of minorities.

Key Provisions

• Front-seat belt violation fine raised to up to $100.
• Fine revenue distribution: 60% to the Department of Public Safety, 40% to the State General Fund; $75 of each fine allocated to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency for belt education (up to $150,000 per fiscal year) with the remainder for law enforcement purposes.
• No court costs on conviction; law enforcement cannot search a vehicle solely because of a belt violation; monthly reporting of minority traffic-stop statistics to the Department of Public Safety and the Attorney General.
• Effective October 1, 2017.

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