Dirt Road Bill Becomes Law

Under certain circumstances, it is now legal for the county to do maintenance on some private dirt roads. Thousands of families in Mobile County live on roads that are deemed private. They can't even get ambulance or school bus service to

Governor Bob Riley vetoed the bill last week. In a statement from his press secretary, Riley said that it "attempted to authorize illegal activity, using county funds to pay for private county roads."

That same day, the Alabama House overrode Riley's veto. On Friday, the Senate agreed with the House and made it law.

You can pick up a packet from the Mobile County Engineering Department in Government Plaza (6th floor, south tower) to find out if you qualify for help.

If you do qualify, everyone on your road must sign a petition and give up the right-of-way to the county. There are also some added costs for moving utility lines and paying for your driveway's drainpipe.

According the State Representative Spencer Collier, the Dirt Road law goes into effect immediately.