Wednesday, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth announced legislation aiming to prevent aggressive traffic policing tactics such as those that were reportedly employed by the Brookside Police Department.

According to Alabama Media Group, the town of Brookside in 2020 generated 49% of its revenue from traffic fines and forfeitures. The town’s recorded population sits at just 1,253 residents.

The outlet also reported that residents provided credible accounts of unwarranted harassment from the police department. The revelations resulted in the resignation of the town’s police chief and six other law enforcement officials.

Ainsworth’s legislation would require that only 10% of a municipality’s budget may consist of traffic fines and penalties. Any additional traffic-related revenue received by a municipality must be directed to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund and the Fair Trial Tax Fund.

In a statement, Ainsworth advised that the legislation would serve to deter municipalities from conducting the same type of “renegade” practices that the town of Brookside had partaken in.

“The lucrative fines generated from tickets that were wrongly issued and charges that were wrongly filed against passing motorists fueled the renegade actions and ‘anything goes’ atmosphere within the Brookside Police Department,” stated Ainsworth. “By restricting the revenues that municipalities may generate from traffic fines and penalties to a reasonable level, we can simultaneously limit the temptation for abuses like those in Brookside to occur elsewhere.”

Additionally, Ainsworth successfully called for the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts to conduct a forensic audit of the Brookside Police Department.

Ainsworth’s legislation is carried by State Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) and State Rep. Louise Alexander (D-Bessemer).

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL