A judge in Jefferson County, AL, is taking a hard-line stance to punish drivers hauling large steel coils that aren't properly secured.

Jefferson County District Court Judge Shelly Watkins said he will fine truckers in his court $2,000 and put them in jail for 30 days if they're found guilty of hauling improperly secured steel coils.

The announcement comes on the heels of a Feb. 12 coil spill on Interstate 20/59, when chains holding a 43,000 pound roll of steel coil snapped after a trucker swerved to avoid a four-wheeler, according to The Birmingham News.

State Rep. Paul DeMarco, R-Jefferson, told The News he plans to introduce legislation next month to expand inspections of flatbeds and increase fines.

Media reports show that the Birmingham area has had 26 incidents of trucks dropping steel coils since 1987, though no fatalities were reported.

Alabama legislators met with steel manufacturers and state troopers in 2003 and 2006 to discuss the issue, but haven't crafted legislation.