HB474 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Allen TreadawayRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Motor vehicles, exhibition driving, further provided; automated traffic enforcement system, authorized to be used to detect and record violations; impoundment period, further provided

Summary

HB474 bans exhibition driving on public and certain private properties, lets local governments use automated enforcement, and adds minimum 48-hour vehicle impoundment with tougher penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

Local governments can use automated cameras to detect violations of exhibition driving, such as speed contests, burnouts, donuts, and sideshows, on public roads or private property with the owner's consent. A violation can occur if someone uses the owner's vehicle for the violation, and the owner knew or should have known it would be used that way. Penalties start as a Class C misdemeanor for a first offense and can rise to Class B for later offenses, with possible driving bans up to six months and higher charges for injuries or death; vehicles observed can be towed and impounded for at least 48 hours with storage fees, and there are procedures for release, contest, and possible seizure or forfeiture after multiple violations; private property speedways are exempt.

Who It Affects

• Drivers and vehicle owners who commit or are implicated in exhibition driving (speed contests, burnouts, donuts, sideshows) and face new penalties and possible impoundment.
• Vehicle owners who allow others to use their vehicle for such violations, who may be charged if they knew or should have known the vehicle would be used for a violation.
• Local governments and law enforcement agencies, which gain authority to enforce the rules using automated enforcement and to tow/impound vehicles; they also handle penalties, licenses, and potential forfeiture processes.
• Towing and storage companies and lienholders, who obtain a lien on impounded vehicles and receive fees for towing and storage, with notice and release procedures for owners.

Key Provisions

• Local governing bodies may use automated photographic or video traffic enforcement to detect and record violations of exhibition driving on public roads or private property, with owner consent; cannot use automated systems for red-light or general speed violations.
• Definitions added for burnout, donut, exhibition of speed, speed contest, sideshow, off-street parking facility, and traffic enforcement officer to clarify what constitutes a violation.
• Penalty structure: first violation is a Class C misdemeanor; second or subsequent violations are Class B misdemeanors; driving prohibitions may be imposed up to six months; more serious injuries or deaths escalate charges to higher offenses (A misdemeanor or felonies) and longer driving bans.
• Impoundment and lien provisions: lawful enforcement may tow and impound a vehicle for at least 48 hours; towing/storage fees apply; the vehicle can be released after paying fees; a lien is created for towing/storage costs and notice must be given to prior security interests; vehicle seizure and forfeiture may occur after three or more violations.
• Consent provisions: a violation can occur if a person knowingly allows or should have known that their vehicle would be used to commit a violation.

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