SB112 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rodger SmithermanSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Traffic stops, racial profiling by law enforcement officers, prohibited, written policies, forms for statistics, and reports to Attorney General required, provision for complaints

Summary

SB112 would ban racial profiling in traffic stops, require written policies and data collection, establish a complaint process and annual reporting to the Attorney General, and set local funding rules for implementing these measures.

What This Bill Does

The bill defines racial profiling and prohibits officers from stopping or detaining people solely because of race or ethnicity. It requires counties, municipalities, and the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to adopt written policies against racial profiling, use standardized forms to record traffic stops, handle complaints, and file reports with the Attorney General. It directs development of stop data forms and complaint reporting forms, with annual summary reports to the Attorney General; it also allows penalties such as withholding funds for noncompliance and requires training before funds are released. It adds a constitutional funding provision about how local expenditures for these measures must be approved, either by a 2/3 vote or by local approval or appropriation.

Who It Affects

• State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies that must adopt policies, collect stop data, handle complaints, and report to the Attorney General
• Motorists and the general public, who may be recorded in stop data and can file complaints if they believe a stop was racially motivated
• The Attorney General's Office, which collects complaints, reviews data, and may impose penalties for noncompliance
• Local governments, which are affected by the local expenditure provision and funding requirements
• Training and oversight bodies (e.g., POST Commission) involved in implementing the new policies

Key Provisions

• Defines traffic stops based on racial profiling as detaining or treating a motorist differently solely due to race or ethnicity, and prohibits such profiling by any law enforcement officer
• Requires written policies prohibiting stops that violate civil rights by January 1 following the act's effective date
• Requires agencies to record and retain data on stops, including number of stops, observed race/ethnicity/gender/age, stop reason, outcomes (warning, citation, arrest, or search), and other appropriate information; officer-observed characteristics must be recorded alongside the stopped motorist's characteristics
• Requires agencies to provide copies of complaints to the Attorney General and notify about how complaints are reviewed and disposed
• Allows the use of demographic data collected in good faith to not be the basis of civil action
• Authorizes the Attorney General to withhold funds from agencies that fail to comply until compliance and training are completed
• Requires annual summary reports to the Attorney General starting in the second year after the act's effective date and annually thereafter
• Directs the Attorney General, with the Secretary of the State Law Enforcement Agency, AOC, and POST to develop and publish stop-recording forms and complaint-reporting forms (both printed and electronic)
• Amends Amendment 621 to Alabama’s Constitution to require a 2/3 vote for new or increased local expenditures related to these measures, with exceptions or local approval or appropriation as alternatives
• Specifies the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor's 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