HB255 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Steve McMillan
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2019
Title: Toll Roads and Bridges, notice to pay a toll, further provided, failure to pay toll citation, further provided, non-renewal of vehicle registration, provided, authority to enter in reciprocal agreements, further provided, Secs. 23-2-167, 23-2-168, 23-2-169, 23-2-172, 23-2-173, 23-2-175 am'd.
Summary: HB 255 updates toll enforcement in Alabama by allowing registration holds for unpaid tolls, raising admin fees, and enabling reciprocal enforcement with other states.
What This Bill Does
It clarifies electronic toll collection methods, including photo-monitoring. It lets the transportation authorities place a hold on renewing a vehicle's registration for unpaid tolls and fees, with a process for paying, appealing, and removing the hold. It creates a tiered fee system for notices and citations (up to $10 for the first notice, up to $50 for the second, up to $100 for the final citation) plus a $5 information-sharing fee, and allows reciprocal enforcement with other states. It also provides an online portal for owners to verify and pay tolls and to manage holds, and lets authorities pursue enforcement through civil actions or licenses/registrations under reciprocal agreements.

Who It Affects
Vehicle owners and operators who owe tolls: may receive notices, pay administrative fees, have a hold placed on registration renewal, face possible non-renewal of registration, and could be subject to enforcement actions or license/registration suspensions; they can appeal the hold in district court.
Local license plate officials, the Department of Transportation, the Alabama Toll Road, Bridge and Tunnel Authority, and toll entities: responsible for issuing notices, placing and lifting registration holds, collecting fees, maintaining the owner information portal, and negotiating/participating in reciprocal toll enforcement with other states.

Key Provisions
Defines and clarifies terms related to electronic toll collection, including methods such as electronic device transmissions and photo-monitoring systems.
Authorizes non-renewal of vehicle registration for unpaid tolls and administrative fees and establishes a process for registration holds and their removal, including 10 days' notice and a 60-day appeal window in district court.
Establishes a tiered administrative fee schedule: up to $10 total for the first notice (including a potential $5 processing fee), up to $50 for the second notice, and up to $100 for the failure-to-pay toll citation, plus a $5 information-sharing fee to the enforcing agency.
Requires an electronic portal for owners to verify and pay tolls, and to remove holds; allows direct communication with local licensing officials for verification.
Authorizes reciprocal toll enforcement agreements with other states, including potential license or vehicle registration actions and shared costs for collecting unpaid tolls.
Provides exemptions from tolls for certain vehicles (e.g., school buses, emergency and law enforcement vehicles on duty, and other facility-specific exemptions).
Effective date: January 1, 2024.

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