HB199 Summary

• Amends Section 32-10-7 of the Alabama Code regarding motor vehicle accident report disclosure by the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency.

• Allows local police departments and their contracted agents to retain copies of written accident reports; permits news-gathering organizations to access reports for publication or broadcasting purposes only.

• Restricts personal identifying information in accident reports released to news organizations to name and age only for 30 days following the accident, with complete reports available thereafter excluding juvenile and protected personal information.

• Authorizes accident report disclosure to persons involved in accidents, parents/guardians of minors, legal representatives of deceased persons, insurers, attorneys, governmental entities responsible for road maintenance or law enforcement, and vehicle owners or lienholders.

• Permits the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to contract with outside entities to release vehicle damage data from accident reports solely for providing the public information about vehicle accident history.