SB52 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Clyde ChamblissSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Motor vehicles, mandatory liability insurance, vehicle registration suspensions, reinstatement fees, percentage of fees county license plate issuing official authorized to retain, increased, Sec. 32-7A-12 am'd.

Summary

SB 52 would raise the share of reinstatement fees that county license plate issuing officials can keep when reinstating vehicle registrations suspended for not having mandatory liability insurance.

What This Bill Does

It amends Section 32-7A-12 to increase the portion of reinstatement fees that a county license plate issuing official may retain when processing reinstatement after a suspension for lack of mandatory liability insurance. The bill keeps the existing reinstatement fee amounts for the first and subsequent violations ($200 for a first violation and $400 for a second or later violation) and requires proof of current insurance. It changes how collected reinstatement fees are distributed: more money can stay with county offices, a portion goes to a new Special Licensing Officials' Fund for licensing office improvements, and the remainder goes to the department or county general fund as specified. The bill also outlines how fees collected by the Administrative Office of Courts or circuit clerks are handled, and requires timely transmission of required documentation to the appropriate office.

Who It Affects

• Vehicle owners whose registrations are suspended for failure to maintain mandatory liability insurance will pay reinstatement fees and must provide proof of insurance to have their registration reinstated.
• County license plate issuing officials (and the counties) would be affected because they can retain a larger share of reinstatement fees and manage a new Special Licensing Officials' Fund for office improvements.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 32-7A-12 to increase the percentage of the reinstatement fee that a county license plate issuing official may retain when reinstating vehicle registrations suspended for not having mandatory liability insurance.
• Keeps reinstatement fees for first and second/subsequent violations at $200 and $400, respectively, and requires proof of current insurance; ownership information may be used to enforce insurance requirements for a set period.
• Specifies how fees collected by county officials are split, including a retained portion for the official, remittance to the department, and allocation to the Special Licensing Officials' Fund and the county general fund.
• Creates the Special Licensing Officials' Fund to improve licensing office equipment and operations, with a yearly cap of $10,000; excess funds revert to the county general fund.
• If fees are collected by the Administrative Office of Courts or the circuit clerk, a portion (15%) is retained by them, with the rest directed to the Advanced Technology and Data Exchange Fund or the Clerk's Fund as specified.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it is passed and approved.

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