SB64 Alabama 2024 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Larry StuttsSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2024
Title: Motor vehicles, off-road vehicles, use on public roads, authorized under certain conditions
Summary: SB64 would allow certain off-road vehicles to operate on some Alabama county roads under specific rules, including licensure, registration, insurance, safety equipment, and crossing procedures.
What This Bill Does
The bill authorizes ATV and recreational off-highway vehicles that are registered as motor vehicles and meet safety requirements to run on county roads. Operators must be 16 or older, hold a valid license, and have liability insurance, plus follow normal motor vehicle duties. It also sets strict crossing rules for county roads (90-degree angle, full stop, yield to hazards, illuminated lights) and lists exemptions where registration and safety rules don’t apply; the measure becomes effective October 1, 2024, and includes penalties for violations. The bill is designed to be exempt from certain local spending rules because it defines a new crime or changes a crime definition.

Who It Affects
Off-road vehicle operators (ATVs and recreational off-highway vehicles) who want to use county roads, as they must meet licensure, registration, insurance, and safety requirements and follow crossing rules.
County governments and local law enforcement in Alabama, which will enforce the new rules; the bill is structured to avoid requiring local approvals or new local funding to take effect.

Key Provisions
Defines terms: All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), County Road, Off-Road Vehicle, and Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle.
Allows operation of off-road vehicles on certain county roads if the vehicle is registered as a motor vehicle, has a license tag, and meets specified requirements.
Requires registration upon payment of taxes/fees and certification that the vehicle has brakes, lights, horn, roll bar, seat belts, spark arrester, proper muffler, and windshield (or eyewear if no windshield).
Operator must be at least 16 years old and hold a valid state or equivalent license; the vehicle must be insured with minimum liability coverage.
Operator must follow duties applicable to motor vehicle operators under Alabama law, with applicable exceptions for off-road vehicles.
Crossing a county road is allowed only under conditions: 90-degree crossing, complete stop, yield to immediate hazards, and illuminated headlights/taillights.
Exemptions from certain requirements apply in specific contexts (private/public recreational trails, affiliated trails with a safety program, agricultural use, wildlife management, law enforcement, emergency services, etc.).
Violations carry penalties; the bill is designed to count as creating a new crime or changing an existing crime definition.
Constitutional note: the bill is exempt from 111.05 local expenditure requirements because it falls under specified exceptions and does not require 2/3 local approval.
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