The Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday passed legislation that would require reduced speed zones around every public or private school in the state of Alabama. House Bill 280 is sponsored by state Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook.
Under existing law, a reduced speed school zone is already established for every school outside of the corporate limits of a municipality. This expands the state law to include every municipality that has not already established the reduced speed zones around its schools.
Under existing law, a person who is convicted of a school zone speed violation is assessed a fine double the amount prescribed by law for outside of the school zone.
This would apply to all public or private school property, including school grounds and any road or highway abutting the school grounds and extending 300 feet along the road or highway from the school grounds.
At an appropriate distance before reaching a reduced speed school zone, an appropriate sign or signs shall be erected warning of the approaching reduced speed school zone. A sign or signs at the end of the school zone shall designate where the motor vehicle may resume the regular speed limits. The bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity.
This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the governor, or its otherwise becoming law. HB280 passed the Alabama House of Representatives on a 101 to 0 vote. It now goes to the Alabama Senate for its consideration.
The Alabama legislature will return for day 15 of the 2021 Legislative Session on Tuesday. Thirty legislative days is the maximum that the Legislature may use during a regular session, but they are not required to use all 30.
