The Alabama Work Zone Safety Act, proposed as a pilot program, aims to enhance public safety in highway work zones by implementing photographic speed enforcement systems. The bill authorizes the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) to install and operate these systems in designated work zones on interstate highways. It mandates data collection to evaluate the program's effectiveness, with an interim report due to the Legislature by March 1, 2027. The act will be repealed on September 30, 2028, unless extended by the Legislature. Key components include the establishment of civil traffic citations for speeding violations detected by these systems, the creation of affirmative defenses for violations, and the establishment of the ALEA Work Zone Safety Fund and the Transportation Work Zone Safety Fund, which will receive certain civil penalties.

Additionally, the bill outlines the procedures for issuing and processing civil traffic citations, requiring ALEA to notify the vehicle's registered owner within 30 days of a violation. It specifies that citations will include details such as speed, date, time, and location, and allows ALEA to issue warning notices at their discretion. The bill establishes a civil fine of $250 for speeding violations, prohibits criminal penalties or points against a driver's license, and mandates annual calibration of the enforcement systems. It also allows vehicle owners to present affirmative defenses against liability. Furthermore, the bill requires traffic control devices to adhere to nationally recognized standards and allows the department to select vendors for enforcement without classifying them as professional service contracts. All civil penalties collected will be equally divided between ALEA and the department, with the newly created funds dedicated to work zone safety costs.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 41-16-53, 39-2-2
Engrossed: 41-16-53, 39-2-2
Enrolled: 39-2-2, 41-16-53, 41-22-5