HB265 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ronald BoltonRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Motor vehicles, child passenger restraint systems, use further provided

Summary

HB265 would strengthen Alabama's child passenger safety and seat belt laws by expanding rear-facing requirements, tightening booster rules, and mandating seat belt use for most passengers with fines and a voucher program.

What This Bill Does

It extends the rear-facing requirement for infant seats to age 2 or 22 pounds. It maintains booster use until age 6 with a five-step readiness test before a child can use a seat belt. It requires all other vehicle occupants to wear seat belts, with limited exceptions, and generally prohibits children under 13 from sitting in the front seat. It imposes fines for violations, creates a voucher program funded by a portion of fines to help low‑income families obtain restraints, assigns points to violators, and requires enforcement and data reporting; the measure takes effect October 1, 2024.

Who It Affects

• Families and guardians in Alabama with child passengers, who must follow new restraint, booster, and seat belt rules and may access a voucher program for low-income families.
• Law enforcement agencies and state departments (e.g., Department of Public Safety, Department of Public Health) responsible for enforcement, administering the voucher program, collecting fines, issuing penalties, and reporting data.

Key Provisions

• Rear-facing infant seats required until the child is 2 years old or weighs 22 pounds.
• Booster seat use continues until age 6 and the child must pass a five-step test to transition to a seat belt.
• All other vehicle occupants must wear seat belts, with limited exceptions; children under 13 should not sit in the front seat, with exceptions.
• Fines: $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second within five years, $100 for the third, and $150 for fourth or subsequent offenses within five years; first-offense charges may be dismissed by a judge.
• A $15 portion of fines funds vouchers to provide size-appropriate child restraints to low-income families, administered by the Department of Public Health.
• Points: 1 point for a first offense; 2 points for a second or subsequent offense.
• Enforcement and reporting: police departments must track minority traffic stops and report monthly to the Department of Public Safety and the Office of the Attorney General.
• Effective date: October 1, 2024.
• Local spending note: the bill includes a Section 111.05 exception for local funds, allowing it to take effect without a local government 2/3 vote.

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 & Traffic