By Staff Writer| October 23, 2019
The backseat seat belt law and anti-road rage law go into effect on November 1, 2019.
Law enforcement officers are set to begin ticketing drivers who break two of the newest Alabama road laws on Friday, November 1.
The backseat seat belt law and anti-road rage law went into effect September 1, but for the past two months, there has been a trial period where officers have just given out warnings instead of tickets for the offenses.
Alabama’s new seat belt law requires everyone in a vehicle to buckle up. In the past, seat belts were only required for those in the front seat and minors in the backseat. Failure for a back seat passenger to wear a seat belt is a secondary violation, meaning a ticket could only be written if the vehicle is stopped for another reason, such as speeding. If the unbuckled passenger is a licensed driver, they will get the ticket. If not, the driver will be issued the citation.
The Anti-Road Rage law prohibits vehicle from staying in the leftmost lane of the interstate for more than a mile and a half without passing another vehicle. There are exceptions in cases of heavy traffic congestion, inclement weather, road obstructions or if a driver is preparing to take an exit from the left lane. There are also exceptions for emergency vehicles.
Alabama is now one of 38 states that has a bill targeting left-lane drivers. In five of those states, fines can reach $1,000.
Violators can receive a ticket for up to $200.