Senate Bill 341 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Josh CarnleySenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Alabama Work Zone Safety Act; pilot program to establish photographic speed enforcement system in a work zone on interstate highway, provided; civil penalties for violations, provided

Summary

SB341 creates a one-site pilot program to run automated photo speed enforcement in an interstate work zone, with civil penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (and the Authority) to procure, install, and operate an automated photographic speed enforcement system in a designated interstate work zone. It sets up a process to issue civil traffic citations to the registered owner when a speeding violation of 10 mph or more over the posted limit is recorded in an active work zone, with a civil penalty of $250 and no criminal penalties or points. It requires notices to be mailed within 30 days of the violation and payment within at least 60 days after the notice, along with provisions for defenses, administrative adjudication or court appeals, and driver awareness. It also requires calibration, operator training, and reporting on the program’s effectiveness, with a phased rollout plan and funding rules for penalty proceeds.

Who It Affects

• Registered vehicle owners in Alabama whose speeding violations in the designated work zone are captured by the enforcement system and receive civil citations
• Vehicle rental companies and their customers, because information about who rented a vehicle at the time of violation may be requested or shared
• Law enforcement and prosecutors (ALEA and local district attorneys) who enforce and prosecute the civil penalties and who must implement training, calibration, and enforcement rules
• The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), the Alabama Toll Road, Bridge, and Tunnel Authority (AUTHORITY), and related personnel who plan, procure, install, and operate the system and signage
• General road users and drivers who travel in work zones and could see increased enforcement and safety measures during construction and maintenance
• Public safety and road funding structures that receive and allocate civil penalty funds

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Alabama Work Zone Safety Act as a pilot program to authorize automated photographic speed enforcement in one interstate work zone until completion of the designated work, with potential extension only by Legislature.
• Authorizes ALDOT and ALEA/Authority to procure, install, and operate an automated speed enforcement system (device types include radar, lidar, camera) in the work zone and to record vehicle speed and rear license plate images.
• Speeds 10 mph over the posted limit in an active work zone trigger civil traffic citations to the vehicle owner; civil penalties set at $250 with no criminal penalties and no license points or suspension.
• Notices of violation must be mailed within 30 days of recording; payment deadline is not less than 60 days after notice; options include paying in lieu of adjudication and contesting liability through administrative adjudication or circuit court (trial de novo).
• Enforcement handled by the local district attorney in the same manner as non-felony traffic infractions; burden of proof is preponderance of the evidence.
• Affirmative defenses for owners include compliance with police orders, operation of the vehicle by an authorized emergency vehicle, stolen vehicle, incorrect license plate, misidentification of the driver, or simultaneous tickets arising from the same set of circumstances.
• System calibration required annually by an independent laboratory with a certificate of calibration; operators must be trained and certified by manufacturers/vendors; chain-of-custody and other image-handling requirements are specified.
• Notices, images, and accompanying evidence are admissible with specified authenticity rules; there are procedures for challenges and appeals to the circuit court with civil standards; court costs rules are defined for appeals.
• Two warning signs must be placed at least 500 feet in advance of the enforcement area; active work zone criteria define where enforcement applies (designated work zone, workers present, signs posted).
• Penalties collected are split 50/50: 50% to ALEA’s Public Safety Fund for law enforcement purposes and 50% to the Public Road and Bridge Fund for road/bridge construction, maintenance, and operation.
• Emergency procurements and rules may be used to implement the pilot; interim and final reports to the Legislature are mandated to measure effectiveness and progress.
• Effective date is immediate; implementation planning targets October 1, 2026 for final rollout plan and not before November 16, 2026 for full-scale enforcement in the pilot area.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Mar 5, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Motor Vehicles & Traffic