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Committee approves code cleanups to adopt state traffic fine schedule and state records retention
Summary
City staff told the Tuscaloosa City Public Safety Committee the proposed code changes would make the municipal code follow the state schedule for traffic fines and records retention; the committee voted to approve both ordinances.
City staff presented two proposed changes to the Tuscaloosa City Code and the committee voted to approve both items.
Jessica, a city staffer presenting the ordinances, said the first change would add section 10-13 to the code so the city would follow the state’s Rule 20 schedule of fines for traffic offenses rather than listing individual fines in local code. Jessica said the change reduces the current section from about 27 pages to roughly two-and-a-half pages and avoids annual local code updates when the state revises its schedule. The staff presentation also listed specific municipal fines for animal control, garbage, lakes and fire violations that would be kept locally.
On the second ordinance, Jessica told the committee the city would repeal section 10-24 — the municipal retention schedule for court files — and instead follow the state’s records-retention schedule. She framed both changes as cleanups to keep the municipal code aligned with state law and simpler to maintain.
Committee members moved and seconded the ordinances; the chair announced both motions passed.
What’s next: The approved ordinances will proceed to the City Council for consideration and final action according to the city’s legislative schedule.
Clarifying details: The new section 10-13 would adopt the state Rule 20 schedule of fines for traffic tickets; staff said the remaining municipal fines for animal control, garbage, lakes and fire would be specified under the revised section. The repeal of section 10-24 means the city will follow the state retention schedule for court records rather than maintaining a separate local schedule.
