HB315 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rhett MarquesRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Alabama Move Over Act; Further provided

Summary

HB315 strengthens the Move Over Act by raising penalties and creating new criminal charges when drivers fail to move over or slow down for emergency, maintenance, and utility vehicles, especially if a crash occurs.

What This Bill Does

The bill increases penalties for violating the Move Over law, with fines rising and possible driver’s license suspension for repeat offenses. It doubles minimum penalties if the violation occurs alongside certain other offenses (like DUI or reckless driving). It adds criminal penalties if a violation is the proximate cause of injury or death in a collision with an emergency vehicle or workers. It also requires an educational campaign by the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency and makes the changes effective October 1, 2024.

Who It Affects

• Drivers: must move over or slow down when approaching authorized emergency, wrecker, utility, or garbage collection vehicles; penalties can increase and driving privileges can be suspended for repeat offenses.
• Emergency responders, wrecker operators, utility workers, construction crews, and other road workers: gain stronger protection and clearer rules for the safety of roadside operations.
• Offenders who also commit offenses like DUI, reckless driving, construction-zone violations, wireless-device use, or racing: face doubled minimum penalties.
• Crash victims and their families: restitution provisions apply if a collision occurs because of a Move Over violation.

Key Provisions

• Designates the act as the AlabamaJohn Hubbard Move Over Act and amends Section 32-5A-58.2.
• On multi-lane roads, drivers must vacate the lane closest to the stopped vehicle or slow to at least 15 mph below the posted speed limit if it’s not safe to move over; on two-lane roads, drivers must move away as far as possible in their lane and slow to 15 mph below the limit (or 10 mph below if the limit is 20 mph or less, with adjustments based on direction by law enforcement).
• Penalties: first Move Over violation is a $100 fine; second is $150; third or more is $200, with suspension of driving privileges for at least 90 days on a third or subsequent violation; violations can be doubled in the minimum penalty when paired with specified offenses (DUI, reckless driving, construction-zone violations, wireless device use, racing).
• If the Move Over violation is the proximate cause of a collision, penalties escalate to Class A misdemeanor (injury), Class C felony (serious injury), or Class B felony (death).
• Restitution rules apply for victims of crimes related to these collisions; ALEA must run an educational campaign and include Move Over information in new driver education materials after January 1, 2025.
• Effective date: October 1, 2024.

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