SB71 Alabama 2020 Session

Updated Feb 12, 2020

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Cam Ward
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: SB 71 expands reduced speed school zones to all public and private schools in Alabama and specifies who installs and maintains the signs.
What This Bill Does
It would apply reduced speed school zones to every public and private school in Alabama, not just those outside municipalities. The bill defines what counts as a reduced speed school zone, a school zone, and a road, and requires signs before the zone and end-of-zone signs showing where normal speed resumes. It assigns sign placement and maintenance to the appropriate local or state agency based on which entity maintains the road. It notes potential local funding costs but says the measure is exempt from local-funding voting requirements under Amendment 621 due to a constitutional exception.

Who It Affects
Students, families, and school staff at all public and private schools in Alabama would experience reduced speeds in school zones and be affected by related safety rules.
Counties, municipalities, and the State Department of Transportation would be responsible for installing and maintaining school zone signs on roads they maintain.

Key Provisions
Expanded reduced speed school zones to every public and private school in Alabama.
Defines 'reduced speed school zone', 'school zone', and 'road' for the article, including a school zone extending 300 feet from the school grounds.
Requires appropriate warning signs before the reduced speed zone and end-of-zone signs to resume normal speed, with signs following current traffic control device rules.
Assigns sign placement and maintenance to the county commission for county roads, to municipalities for municipal roads, and to the State Department of Transportation for state-maintained roads within a county.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Motor Vehicles