Montgomery's Mobility & Curb Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles mobility & curb rules a little differently. In Montgomery, Alabama, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Shared E-Scooter Rules

Montgomery, Alabama requires shared motorized scooter and mobility-device providers to hold a city license and permit before operating, renewed annually, and bans device parking in loading zones, travel lanes, and within five feet of hydrants, driveways or curb cuts. City Code Sections 27-691 through 27-700 set the program.

Key details: License required: Yes, before any device is deployed (Sec. 27-693). License term: 1 year, renewable annually. Approval chain: Risk management review, then city council. No-park buffer: 5 feet from hydrants, driveways, curb cuts. Device removal: City may impound without notice (Sec. 27-696).

Operating without the license and permit required by Sec. 27-693, or leaving devices parked in a banned location under Sec. 27-695(f), exposes a provider to citation, and to impoundment, storage and disposal of the device at the provider's expense without prior notice under Sec. 27-696(b); the city can also terminate the provider's permit and order its entire device fleet removed from city streets under Sec. 27-700 for uncorrected violations.

Compared to other cities, Montgomery takes a harder line on shared e-scooter rules. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Red-Light Cameras

Montgomery, Alabama's Code authorizes both red-light camera enforcement at intersections and automated speed cameras in school zones, charging a $60 civil penalty for a first or second offense and $100 for a third within 12 months. Articles X and XI of Chapter 27 set the program.

Key details: Red-light penalty: $60 first/second, $100 third+ (12 mo.). School zone speed penalty: Same $60/$100 tiers (Sec. 27-634). Late fee: $25 additional if unpaid on time. Hearing deadline: 15 days to request adjudication. Appeal court: Montgomery County Circuit Court, trial de novo.

A first or second red-light or school-zone speed camera violation within 12 months carries a $60.00 civil penalty, rising to $100.00 for a third or later violation in that window, plus a $25.00 late-payment penalty if unpaid on time, under Sections 27-602 and 27-634. These are civil, not criminal, penalties, and unpaid or uncontested notices are treated as an admission of liability.

Bike Lane Rules

Montgomery, Alabama requires drivers to give any bicycle a three-foot passing buffer under City Code Sec. 27-16, and requires cyclists riding on a sidewalk to yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing under Sec. 27-305.

Key details: Minimum passing distance: 3 feet, maintained until safely past. Covered vehicles: Any human-powered vehicle allowed on the roadway. Sidewalk riding: Must yield to pedestrians, signal audibly. Required equipment: Bell audible for 100+ feet; no siren/whistle. Bicycle parking: Curb, rack, or building, least obstruction.

A driver who fails to leave the required three-foot buffer, or a cyclist who fails to yield to pedestrians or signal on a sidewalk, is guilty of an offense against the city. Sec. 27-16 expressly ties its penalty to Sec. 1-6, Montgomery's general penalty: a fine of $1.00 to $500.00, up to six months in the city jail or at hard labor, or both, at the municipal judge's discretion.

The Bottom Line

Montgomery's mobility & curb rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Montgomery is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Montgomery's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.