The bill amends Section 13A-11-9 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to further define the crime of loitering and establish specific criminal penalties for violations. Key insertions include the addition of new loitering offenses, such as remaining within 30 feet of an interchange involving a controlled-access or limited-access highway, and clarifications on what constitutes an interchange. The bill also specifies that loitering is a violation, with a second or subsequent violation classified as a Class C misdemeanor. Additionally, it allows law enforcement officers to instruct individuals to leave public roadways and offers the option to transport them to emergency housing if they are in violation of the new loitering provisions.

The bill also includes a provision that, despite requiring new or increased local expenditures, it is exempt from further requirements under Section 111.05 of the Alabama Constitution because it defines a new crime or amends an existing one. The act is set to take effect on June 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13A-11-9
Enrolled: 13A-11-9