HB281 Alabama 2020 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Ginny ShaverRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2020
Title: Crimes and offenses, to revise the criminal penalties for violations of fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, Sec. 13A-10-52 am'd.
Summary: HB281 tightens penalties for fleeing or eluding police and expands when such conduct can be charged as a felony.
What This Bill Does
The bill revises penalties for fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer. A base violation remains a Class A misdemeanor, but it becomes a Class C felony if the flight crosses into another state or injures bystanders, and a Class B felony if there is serious injury or death to any person. Convicted drivers would have their licenses suspended for 6 to 24 months. It also notes that the bill expands the conduct that could be charged as a felony and states it is exempt from certain local-funding requirements.

Who It Affects
Drivers who flee or elude law enforcement: could face charges ranging from Class A misdemeanor to Class B/C felonies depending on outcomes (such as crossing state lines or causing injury or death).
Bystanders and other people impacted by the incident: face potential higher penalties if injured or killed, and the offender may receive a license suspension.

Key Provisions
Amends Section 13A-10-52 to define unlawful fleeing from a law enforcement officer (a) and fleeing after an officer signals to stop (b).
Sets penalty levels: Class A misdemeanor baseline; Class C felony if flight crosses into a neighboring state or causes death or physical injury to bystanders/third parties; Class B felony if serious physical injury or death to any person.
Requires the offender's driver's license be suspended for 6 months to 2 years upon conviction.
Effective date: law becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.
Local-funding note: Section 2 explains the bill is exempt from Amendment 621 local-funding requirements because it defines a new crime or amends an existing crime.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Crimes and Offenses