HB285 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jamie KielRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Traffic infractions, requires law enforcement to contact parent or guardian when citing minor for traffic violation

Summary

HB285 would require law enforcement to contact a minor’s emergency contact or parent when the minor is cited for a traffic violation.

What This Bill Does

If a minor under 19 is cited for any traffic infraction, the citing agency must make a reasonable effort to notify the driver’s emergency contact, if available. A single attempted call, text, or letter via mail counts as this reasonable effort. The bill also tightens rules around how traffic tickets are handled and adds penalties for improper ticket handling, and it becomes effective October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Minors under 19 cited for traffic infractions and their families (parents/guardians) who may be notified.
• Law enforcement agencies and officers who issue citations, who must perform the notification and follow the new ticket-handling rules.

Key Provisions

• Expands the existing tobacco-notification requirement to include traffic infractions, requiring notification of the emergency contact when a minor is cited.
• Defines a 'reasonable effort' to notify as one attempted telephone call, text message, or U.S. mail letter to the emergency contact, if available.
• Requires proper handling of traffic tickets and creates criminal contempt penalties for anyone who improperly disposes of or aids in improper disposition of a ticket.
• Named as TJ's Law and set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

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