Aggressive Driving in Alabama Could be Punishable by Up to a Year in Jail
MONTGOMERY Al.
Al.com
February 18, 2025
State Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, has filed a bill that would establish aggressive driving as a crime in Alabama.
Within the text of SB172, aggressive driving “is committed when a person operates a motor vehicle with the intent to annoy, harass, molest, intimidate, injure, or obstruct another person operating a motor vehicle, and commits an enumerated offense relating to the operation of a motor vehicle.”
This includes when a driver:
Strikes or attempts to strike another vehicle or otherwise cause another vehicle to leave the roadway
Passes the person in a no-passing zone
Follows the person too closely
Throws any destructive or injurious material onto the highway
Unlawfully overtakes the person on the left
Unlawfully travels below the minimum authorized speed
Engages in reckless driving
Unlawfully remains in the leftmost lane for more than 1.5 miles without completely passing another vehicle
Brandishes a pistol or other firearm
If the bill is passed, first time offenders would be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $6,000 fine, according to state code.
The court would also forward a record of the conviction to the Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency and the person’s license would be suspended for a period of not less than 30 days.
On a second or subsequent conviction within a 10-year period, the person would be guilty of a Class D felony, which carries a standard sentence of 366 days to 5 years, according to state code.
The Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency would also revoke the person’s license for a period of not less than one year, the bill states.
If passed, SB172 would go into effect on Oct. 1.
It is currently pending action in the Senate Committee on Judiciary.
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