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Vote NO on SB409

Senator Orr,

Re: Vote “No” Justification on SB409

As requested, the following is information relating to SB409.

Under existing law, boat trailers are exempt from the payment of license taxes and registration fees.  SB 409 imposes annual license taxes and registration fees on boat trailers and watercraft trailers with the funds distributed as follows:

  • Fifty percent of the amount shall be distributed to the Alabama Association of Rescue Squads, Inc.
  • Thirty percent of the amount shall be deposited in the State Treasury to be used by the Department of Transportation for the construction and maintenance of public boat ramps
  • Ten percent of the amount shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Alabama Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund
  • Ten percent of the amount shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Department of Public Safety for the repair and maintenance of district trooper posts.

My Position (along with the Association of County Commissions of Alabama)

Boat trailers and watercraft trailers are “Road Use” vehicles.  Any taxes or fees imposed on “Road Use” vehicles should used to fund roads and bridges.  Many people use boat trailers as utility trailers which will add confusion to the collection and disbursements of funds.

Assuming boats and watercraft are the primary target to raise the additional funding proposed in SB409, I would recommend adding it directly to the vessel’s registration fee as called for in Code Section 33-5-17.   By adding the fee directly to the vessel, all vessels are captured, even the vessels without trailers (many pontoons and flat-bottom boats are sold without trailers). 

Thank you for your consideration,

Greg J. Bodley
Morgan County Engineer

If you have questions about SB409, please contact ACCA Executive Director Sonny Brasfield at (334) 263-7594.

The Association of County Engineers of Alabama is an affiliate organization of the
Association of County Commissions of Alabama.

Association of County Engineers of Alabama
100 N. Jackson Street | Montgomery, Ala. 36104 | (334) 263-7594 | Fax (334) 263-7678
www.acea-online.org | www.acca-online.org