HB410 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

David FaulknerRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Motor vehicles, reduced speed school zones, to include schools in a municipality, Secs. 32-5A-181, 32-5A-182, 32-5A-183 am'd.

Summary

Expands reduced speed school zones to all public and private schools in Alabama and adds sign requirements.

What This Bill Does

The bill would extend reduced speed school zones from being limited to county areas around some schools to every public and private school in the state. It defines terms for reduced speed zones, roads, and school zones, and requires warning signs before the zone and signs showing where to resume normal speeds, with signage standards guiding placement. Sign placement and maintenance would be handled by counties for county roads, municipalities for city roads, and the State Department of Transportation for state-maintained roads within a county. It notes potential local funding effects but is exempt from Amendment 621 requirements because it defines a new crime or amends an existing crime, and it would take effect on the first day of the third month after approval; fines for school zone violations would continue to follow the existing rule of double the outside-the-zone fine.

Who It Affects

• Students, parents, and residents near all public and private schools statewide, who would experience more reduced speed zones and associated penalties.
• Counties, municipalities, and the State Department of Transportation, which would be responsible for placing and maintaining warning signs on roads they oversee.

Key Provisions

• Expands reduced speed school zones to every public and private school in Alabama.
• Defines key terms: reduced speed school zone, road or highway, and school zone (including school property and 300 feet of road from the grounds).
• Requires warning signs before entering the reduced speed zone and signs indicating where the regular speed limit resumes; signs must follow the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
• Assigns sign placement and maintenance to the appropriate entity: counties for county roads, municipalities for city roads, and the State DOT for state-maintained roads within a county.
• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month after approval by the Governor.
• States that the bill is exempt from Amendment 621 requirements because it defines a new crime or amends the definition of an existing crime.
• Maintains the existing rule that school zone violations carry a fine double the amount prescribed outside the school zone.

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

Subjects

Motor Vehicles