Residents Can’t Challenge City Traffic Fine And Jailing Practice

Two proposed classes of Alabama residents can’t continue on with their challenge of the state capitol’s practice of converting traffic fines into jail sentences, a federal appeals panel unanimously ruled Friday.

The lower court that denied the classes certification didn’t abuse its discretion because neither class can satisfy the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(a) and (b), a panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit said in an opinion. While the legality of Montgomery, Alabama’s systemic practice remain unaddressed, the panel ruled a class action wasn’t an appropriate vehicle to bring its claims.

“While the details ...