Relating to motor vehicles; to amend Section 32-6-65, Code of Alabama 1975; to define "centralized motor vehicle registration"; to allow for certain data collection; and to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.
Impact
The bill also introduces technical revisions to update the existing code language, facilitating clarity and consistency in the regulatory framework surrounding motor vehicle registration. By keeping the registration process at the county level, SB214 aims to streamline the division of responsibilities and limit potential confusion regarding compliance among vehicle owners. This could potentially enhance the efficiency of the registration process as counties manage their own systems without state interference.
Summary
Senate Bill 214 (SB214) addresses the registration of motor vehicles within Alabama, specifically prohibiting the establishment of a centralized motor vehicle registration system at the state level. The bill confirms legislative intent for motor vehicle registration to remain decentralized, managed exclusively at the county level. This legislative move ensures that no state agency is permitted to create or enforce a centralized registration system, thereby emphasizing local governance in motor vehicle registration matters.
Contention
While the bill passed unanimously in the Senate, it underscores the ongoing debate about state versus local control. Proponents argue that keeping vehicle registration local allows for tailored approaches to meet specific community needs, while opponents may contend that it could lead to discrepancies in registration processes across different counties. The emphasis on local control could also reflect a broader trend of favoring smaller governmental entities over centralization, which has historically been a contentious issue in legislative discussions.
Relating to self-defense, to amend Section 13A-3-23, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide a person's use of physical force in defending himself, herself, or another person is presumed reasonable; to further provide for the immunity received by a person whose use of physical force on another person is justified self-defense; to shift the burden of proving a person's use of physical force is not justified to the state; and to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style
Motor vehicles, disbursement of fines and fees from driving without a valid license plate, special access parking violations, and disability parking violations further provided for
Motor vehicles, requires proof of current registration and insurance to claim a vehicle from impound the first time or any subsequent time it is impounded.