HB 55 — Motor vehicles; prohibitions on the alteration of the height of the fender of a vehicle, provided

HB55 INTRODUCEDENGROSSED HB55 TR7K19-136X2VEE-2 By Representatives Bolton, Pettus, Bedsole RFD:

12-Jan-24 Page 0 TR7K19-1HB55 11/14/2023Engrossed CMH2 (L)CMH4 2023-26936 2A 4BILL SYNOPSIS:TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT Relating to motor vehicles;

This bill would provide prohibitions on the alteration of a motor vehicle in such a manner that the height of the front fender is raised four or more inches greater than the height of the accompanying rear fender Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless:

it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions;

it is approved by the affected entity;

or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose.

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment.

However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment.

Page 1 HB55 INTRODUCED A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT Relating to motor vehicles;

This act shall mebe known and may be cited as the Alabama Squat Truck Law.

(a)(a)(1) ItExcept as otherwise provided in subdivision (2), it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a passenger car or truck, as defined under Section 32-1-1.1, Code of Alabama 1975, on the highways of this state if, by alteration of the suspension, frame, or chassis, the height of the front fender is raised four or more inches greater than the height of the accompanying rear fender.

For purposes of this section, the height of the fender shall be a vertical measurement from and perpendicular to the ground, through the centerline of the wheel, and to the bottom of the Page 1 HB55 Engrossed fender.

(2) This subsection does not apply to any vehicle modification or alteration that has been made for bona fide commercial or agricultural purposes.

(2) On a second conviction, a fine of not more than one Page 2 HB55 INTRODUCED hundred dollars ($100).

In addition, the court shall send notice of the conviction to the Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, who shall enter the conviction on the driving record of the defendant as a two-point violation.

Page 32 HB55 Engrossed House of Representatives Read for the first time and referred ................06-Feb-24 to the House of Representatives committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security Read for the second time and placed ................21-Feb-24 on the calendar:

amendment Read for the third time and passed ................22-Feb-24 as amended Yeas 91 Nays 5 Abstains 1 John Treadwell Clerk Page 3