HB290 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Chris SellsRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2019
Title: Motor vehicles, rules of the road, Alabama Move Over Act, penalty for violations further provided, Sec. 32-5A-58.2 am'd.
Summary: HB 290 raises fines for violating the Alabama Move Over Act and keeps the move-over requirements in place.
What This Bill Does
It amends Section 32-5A-58.2 to increase penalties for violations of the Alabama Move Over Act, with range fines: first violation $25-$100, second $50-$150, and third or more $100-$200, and it classifies violations as misdemeanors. It preserves the Move Over rule: if you can safely move over to the adjacent lane, you must do so when approaching parked emergency, law enforcement, wrecker, utility, or garbage collection vehicles with signals; if moving over isn't safe, slow down by at least 15 mph below the posted limit. It requires the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to run an educational awareness campaign about this section and to include information in driver's education materials after January 1, 2010. It includes an effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after it passes and the Governor signs it.

Who It Affects
Drivers: face higher fines for violations and must follow the move-over or slow-down rule.
Emergency, law enforcement, road maintenance, and utility workers: increased protection due to stricter penalties for drivers who don't move over or slow down.
State Law Enforcement Agency and the public: required to run an educational campaign and include information in driver education materials.

Key Provisions
Amends Section 32-5A-58.2 to specify move-over requirements and higher misdemeanor fines for violations (first $25-$100, second $50-$150, third or later $100-$200).
Maintains the move-over and slow-down duties when approaching parked authorized vehicles and roadside workers; specifies traffic behavior on interstate/highways with multiple lanes and two-lane roads.
Requires an educational awareness campaign by the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency and inclusion of this information in driver education materials after January 1, 2010.
States that the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after its passage and approval.
Section 2 clarifies that the bill is exempt from Amendment 621 requirements because it creates or amends a crime.

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