HB517 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Connie C. Rowe

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Jasper, automated traffic safety law enforcement, authorized, provide certain procedures to follow, civil violation

Summary

The Jasper Automated Traffic Safety Act would let the City of Jasper use automated cameras to enforce traffic violations as civil fines, with owner liability and a new process to contest them.

What This Bill Does

The city may implement automated systems to detect red-light, stop-sign, and speeding violations and issue civil fines by mail. Owners are presumptively liable, with procedures to contest liability through administrative hearings and, if needed, a trial de novo in Walker County Circuit Court. If the owner pays the fine, they can sue the actual driver for reimbursement. The act also sets fines, requires signage, outlines notices and fees, and limits how records are handled.

Who It Affects

• Vehicle owners in Jasper whose vehicles are photographed and fined; they would be presumptively liable for civil fines, receive mail notices, and may contest liability or pay and potentially be sued by the actual driver.
• Renters or lessees of vehicles (and their rental companies); liability can be shifted to the renter/lessee under certain provisions, with the city able to request renter information and issue notices to the renter if appropriate.

Key Provisions

• Authorized use of photographic traffic signal, stop sign, and speed enforcement systems to issue civil violations and collect fines within Jasper.
• Fines: up to $110 for traffic signal or stop sign violations; speeding fines tiered by how much over the limit (minimum $60, up to $160), with school zones potentially doubling those fines.
• Notice and payment: notices mailed to the vehicle owner within 30 days; presumed receipt on the 10th day after mailing; payment due within 30 days after notice; optional administrative hearing with a $30 fee; late penalties up to $25.
• Administrative hearings and judicial review: an administrative hearing officer hears disputes; the city bears the burden of proof; appeals can be heard in Walker County Circuit Court by trial de novo; civil standard of proof applies.
• Liability and enforcement: paying a fine allows a separate civil action to recover from the actual operator of the vehicle; renters/lessees may be held liable if information is provided by the owner or renter; rental companies must disclose information upon request.
• Record-keeping and impacts: civil violations do not go on driving records or result in arrest; a portion of fines goes to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency; the city must report annual data on system effectiveness to state agencies.
• Operational safeguards: the city must post signs at enforcement locations; trained technicians must certify the systems; timing and placement of signals must follow the latest Traffic Engineering standards; certain criminal violations occurring simultaneously may bar civil liability.

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

Subjects

Jasper