Bill > SB296

This bill establishes comprehensive regulations for operating off-road vehicles (ORVs) on public roads in Alabama. The legislation requires ORVs to be registered, tagged, and certified by a dealer as meeting specific safety equipment standards, including brakes, lights, horn, seat belts, roll bar, spark arrester, muffler, and windshield. Operators must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver's license and must follow standard motor vehicle traffic laws. The bill restricts ORV use to unincorporated county roads with speed limits of 55 mph or less, explicitly prohibiting operation on interstate highways or within municipalities. The law allows limited crossing of highways under specific safety conditions, such as making a near-90-degree crossing, coming to a complete stop, yielding to oncoming traffic, and using lights. ORVs are exempted from these requirements when used on private land, for agricultural purposes, or for official governmental purposes. The annual licensing and registration fees will be equivalent to those for passenger automobiles, and the Department of Revenue is tasked with creating implementation rules. The bill also includes a provision that county governments cannot be held liable for damages arising from ORV operation, and violations will be treated as traffic infractions. The law is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

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