SB320 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Trip Pittman

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Toll roads and bridges, electronic assessment and collection of tolls, assessment to account holder or by photo-monitoring, administrative fees for nonpayment, judgements, suspension of driver's licenses and registration, Secs 23-2-165 to 23-2-175, inclusive, added; Sec. 23-2-163 repealed

Summary

SB320 creates an Electronic Toll Collection system that charges tolls to account holders or via photo monitoring and can suspend a driver’s license or vehicle registration for unpaid tolls.

What This Bill Does

The bill establishes the Electronic Toll Collection Act, allowing tolls to be collected electronically either by an account with the toll entity or by processing license plate information from a photo-monitoring system. It makes the registered owner or the vehicle operator liable for toll violations and allows collection through warnings, civil actions, and potential judgments that can lead to suspending driving privileges and vehicle registration. It sets up a tiered notice system with escalating administrative fees and provides for enforcement across courts, including possible reciprocal enforcement with other states, along with privacy protections and specific exemptions.

Who It Affects

• Vehicle owners: may be charged tolls and administrative fees; could have driving privileges or vehicle registrations suspended after a judgment.
• Vehicle operators/drivers (when not the owner): may be held liable for toll violations and penalties.
• Lessors and lessees (rental or leased vehicles): lessors can avoid liability if they provide proper lessee information; otherwise the lessee may be held liable.
• Account holders for electronic tolls: individuals or entities who maintain toll accounts; may be charged automatically and subject to denial of new accounts.
• Nonresidents and residents operating on Alabama toll facilities: enforcement can extend across state lines via reciprocal agreements and suspensions may affect out-of-state licenses/registrations.
• Toll authorities, departments, and private toll entities: responsible for collecting tolls, administering notices, filing suits, and enforcing judgments; also involved in data sharing and privacy protections.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Electronic Toll Collection Act to enable electronic toll collection by account or photo-monitoring system.
• Makes the registered owner or the vehicle operator jointly liable for toll violations and allows collection through notices, civil actions, and judgments.
• Implements a tiered notice system with escalating administrative fees: up to $25 for the first notice, up to $50 for the second, and up to $100 for the citation, each due within 30 days.
• Allows suspension of the driver’s license and vehicle registration upon judgment, with processes for reinstatement and cross-state enforcement via reciprocal agreements.
• Provides privacy safeguards restricting sale or non-authorized sharing of account holder information, while permitting certain data exchanges for enforcement and anti-fraud purposes.
• Exempts certain vehicles (e.g., school buses, emergency and law enforcement in active service) from toll payments and repeals existing conflicting statutes (including 23-2-163).
• Authorizes civil actions and outlines enforcement procedures, including the use of photographs and records as prima facie evidence and a six-year period to file actions.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Highways, Roads, and Bridges