SB282 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Garlan GudgerSenator

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Chris ElliottAndrew Jones

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Municipal courts, traffic tickets, fines and penalties, municipalities limited in the amount of money a municipality may retain, transfer of excess to State Finance Department for further distribution

Summary

SB282 would cap how much a municipality can keep from traffic-ticket fines at 10% of its general operating budget and require the excess to go to state funds for crime victims and fair trials, with Class 1 municipalities exempt.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill limits a city’s share of traffic-ticket fines to 10% of its most recent general operating budget. Any amount above that 10% would be transferred to the Department of Finance to be split equally between the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund and the Fair Trial Tax Fund. Class 1 municipalities are not subject to these rules. The law would take effect on the first day of the third month after it becomes law, and its full effect depends on constitutional requirements and potential local approval or state funding if those requirements aren’t met.

Who It Affects

• Cities and towns (municipalities) – must cap fines/penalties from traffic tickets at 10% of their most recent general operating budget and redirect excess funds to state funds; Class 1 municipalities are exempt.
• Residents of municipalities – potential changes in local revenue use since excess fine money may be redirected to state funds rather than staying in local budgets.

Key Provisions

• Cap: Only 10% of a municipality's general operating budget may come from fines and penalties retained from traffic tickets.
• Excess funds: Any amount above the 10% cap must be transferred to the Department of Finance for equal distribution to the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund and the Fair Trial Tax Fund.
• Budget basis: The calculation uses the most recently completed year's general operating budget.
• Exemption: Class 1 municipalities are excluded from these requirements.
• Effective date and conditions: The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it becomes law; if not enacted with a 2/3 vote, local entities may need local approval or Legislature-provided funding for it to take effect.

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

Subjects

Municipalities