On Thursday, the Alabama State Senate voted in favor of legislation outlawing street racing and other forms of exhibition driving, such as tire burnouts and doing donuts with a motor vehicle.
Senate Bill 58 (SB58) is sponsored by State Sen. Rodger Smitherman. Smitherman is a Democrat from Birmingham.
“In our area, we have had four people killed,” from racing Smitherman said. “Currently, all you can do is misdemeanors.
Sen. Will Barfoot spoke in support of the legislation.
“This really does give law enforcement the option to really clamp down on this,” Sen. Barfoot said.
Smitherman said, “My house sponsor is Rep. Treadaway.”
Smitherman explained that Rep. Allen Treadaway, the former City of Birmingham Deputy Police Chief, is sponsoring the same legislation in the Alabama House of Representatives.
“I don’t have a problem with the House bill,” Smitherman said. “It is the same bill.”
“There have been several instances of people getting hurt through this dangerous driving,” Barfoot said.
“I have been almost run over,” said Sen. Shay Shelnutt. “I have seen this problem personally in our county.”
The Alabama Big 10 Mayors have endorsed legislation to impose criminal penalties on exhibition driving.
“Exhibition driving” is when a driver purposefully drives intentionally to create unnecessary engine noise, tire skids, burnouts, and other dangerous and dangerous and damaging driving techniques. This growing problem across Alabama cities creates a public safety hazard for pedestrians and other drivers while draining limited law enforcement resources.
A first violation shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. A second or subsequent violation shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. In addition, the court may prohibit the person from driving a motor vehicle on the public highways of this state for a period not exceeding six months.
If a person operating a motor vehicle violating this ban causes bodily injury to another individual, or the offense proximately causes damage to any property, the person shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. In addition, the court shall prohibit the person from operating a motor vehicle on the public highways of this state for a period of six months.
If a person commits a violation of this ban and, in the commission of this act, causes serious physical injury to a person other than the driver, the person shall be guilty of a Class C felony. In addition, the court shall prohibit the person from operating a motor vehicle on the public highways of this state for a period of two years. If a person commits a violation of this law and the commission of the offense proximately causes death to any person, the person shall be guilty of a Class B felony. In addition, the court shall prohibit the person from operating a motor vehicle on the public highways of this state for not less than two years.
SB58 passed the Senate 33 to 0. The legislation now moves to the Alabama House of Representatives, where it has been referred to the House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee.
Rep. Treadaway’s companion legislation, House Bill 29 (HB29), has already received a favorable report from the committee. HB29 could be considered by the full House of Representatives as early as Tuesday.
Tuesday will be day 8 of the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session.
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