SB214 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald H. AllenSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Motor vehicles, school and church buses, special stops required when approaching, criminal penalties for violations, further penalties for causing death or bodily injury, Sec. 32-5A-154 am'd.

Summary

SB 214 would tighten penalties for unlawfully passing a stopped school or church bus, add criminal penalties if someone is injured or killed, and require longer license suspensions and stricter driving rules.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill makes violations of stopping for stopped school or church buses a criminal offense with penalties that worsen with repeated convictions. It lengthens license suspensions, adds criminal penalties when the violation causes bodily injury or death, and bans driving during suspension even if a person has a limited permit or ignition interlock device. It also updates bus signage and signals requirements and includes a note about local funding rules and the bill’s effective date.

Who It Affects

• Drivers who violate the stop requirement around stopped school or church buses, who would face criminal penalties and longer license suspensions with each prior conviction
• People who are injured or killed as a result of such violations (and their families), who could face fines and license penalties imposed on the violator and are affected by the consequences of these crashes

Key Provisions

• Drivers must come to a complete stop when meeting or overtaking a stopped school or church bus with active signals, and may not proceed until signals end or the bus resumes motion or is signaled to proceed
• Buses must display clear 'school bus' or 'church bus' signs and have visual signals that operate only when the bus is stopped for loading or unloading
• Divided highways provide an exception: stopping is not required if the bus is stopped in the opposing lane and pedestrians are not crossing
• If the driver’s identity is not known, it may be inferred that the vehicle’s registered owner committed the violation; if multiple owners are charged, only one may be convicted
• First conviction: Class B misdemeanor with fines roughly $150–$300, at least 100 hours of community service, and a 90-day license suspension
• Second conviction: Class A misdemeanor with higher fines (roughly $300–$500), 100–200 hours of community service, and 30 days to 1 year license suspension
• Third or subsequent conviction: Class C felony with fines roughly $500–$1,000, 200–300 hours of community service, and 90 days to 3 years license suspension or revocation
• Fourth or subsequent conviction: Class C felony with fines roughly $1,000–$3,000 and a one-year license revocation
• If the violation causes bodily injury, the violator faces a Class C felony with up to $10,000 fine and 1–3 years license revocation
• If the violation causes death, the violator faces a Class B felony with up to $20,000 fine and a 5-year license revocation
• A person whose license is suspended or revoked under this section may not drive under any conditions during the suspension or revocation period, with no eligibility for limited permits or ignition interlock exceptions
• The bill includes a constitutional note about local funds and states it would be treated as exempt from local funding requirements due to exceptions; it becomes effective the first day of the third month after passage

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