Alabama New Resident Guide

Licensing and Residency Requirements

• License must be obtained within 30 days of establishing residence.
• Section 40-12-262, Code of Alabama, provides that the owner of a non-commercial vehicle which has a valid registration from another jurisdiction has thirty (30) days from the date the vehicle enters the state to register the vehicle.
• After changing your address within Alabama, you have 30 days in which to notify the Driver License Division, P. 0. Box 1471, Montgomery, Alabama 36102, giving your full name, your driver license number, and your new address. If you desire to change your address on your license, apply to your probate judge or license commissioner's office. A duplicate fee will be charged for a corrected license. If you wish to change your name prior to license expiration, you should present proper documents (marriage certificate or court order) to your probate judge or license commissioner. A duplicate license will be issued with the corrected information for the normal duplicate fee.

Violation Point Counts

The amount of points that go against your driver's license for specific types of violations.

2 Point Violations

• Speeding (1-25 mph over speed limit).
• Inability to control vehicle.
• Improper lane.
• Drinking alcohol while operating a vehicle.
• Improper operation of motorcycle.
• Emergency vehicles.
• Fail to signal/use incorrect turn signal.
• Making improper turn.
• Coasting.
• Unsafe operation.
• All other moving violations.

3 Point Violations

• Following too closely.
• Disregarding traffic control device (stop sign, traffic light, etc.)
• Fail to obey construction/maintenance zone markers/flagman/police officer/restricted lane.

4 Point Violations

• Wrong side of the road/Illegal passing.

5 Point Violations

• Speeding (26 or more mph over speed limit).
• Failure to yield right of way.
• Passing stopped school bus.

6 Point Violations

• Reckless driving or reckless endangerment involving operating a motor vehicle.
• Admin per se.
• Any conviction which resulted from a charge that involved the drinking of alcoholic beverages and the driving of a motor vehicle but did not require mandatory revocation of the driver license.

Time Violations Remain on Record

After a traffic conviction is 2 years old, it loses its point count for suspension purposes but remains on a driver's record.

Point counts at which license is suspended:

• 12-14 points in a 2-year period - 60 days.
• 15-17 points in a 2-year period - 90 days.
• 18-20 points in a 2-year period - 120 days.
• 21-23 points in a 2-year period - 180 days.
• 24 and above points in a 2-year period - 365 days.

Headlight Laws

You must dim your headlights from high to low beam when you are within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle or within 200 feet of a vehicle traveling ahead of you.

You must turn your headlights on:

• From a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise.
• During other periods of limited visibility when you cannot see clearly for at least 500 feet.
• When the windshield wipers of the vehicle are in use because of rain, sleet, or snow. Intermittent use of windshield wipers does not require headlight usage.

There is no specific law allowing or prohibiting headlight flashing.

DUI Penalties

First Offense

• Up to 1 year imprisonment;
• $600 - $2,100 fine;
• Minimum 90 days license suspension;
• DUI or substance abuse program required for license reinstatement;
• 2 years ignition interlock if: greater than or equal to .15 BAC; refusal; driving with child under 14; or causing someone to be injured at time of offense.

Second Offense (within 5 years)

• Up to 1 year imprisonment;
• $1,100 - $5,100 fine;
• Minimum 1 year license revocation;
• DUI or substance abuse program required for license reinstatement;
• Ignition interlock 2 years.

Third Offense (within 5 years)

• 60 days - 1 year imprisonment;
• $2,100 - $10,100 fine;
• Minimum 3 years license revocation;
• DUI or substance abuse program required for license reinstatement;
• 3 years ignition interlock.

Fourth or Subsequent Offense (within 5 years)

• 1 year and 1 day - 10 years imprisonment;
• $4,100 - $10,100 fine;
• Minimum 5 years license revocation;
• DUI or substance abuse program required for license reinstatement;
• 5 years ignition interlock.

Other

High BAC

When any person is found to have a BAC of greater than or equal to .15, he/she shall be sentenced to at least double the minimum punishment. If the offense is a misdemeanor, then the minimum punishment shall be 1 year, all of which may be suspended. License revocation shall be for not less than 1 year.

Child Endangerment

The minimum sentence is double the usual sanction if an offender greater than or equal to 21 was operating a vehicle while transporting a passenger

Alcohol Education and Treatment

The court may suspend the remainder of a sentence (after the 10-day mandatory minimum is served), but only if as a condition of probation, the defendant enrolls and successfully completes a State certified chemical dependency program.

Red Light Violation Fines

• Traditional enforcement: $100 fine/3 points.
• Auto enforcement: $110/no points.

Turn Signal Information

Signal your intention to turn or change lanes at least 100 feet in advance.

Funeral Procession Right-of-Way Laws

Alabama has no state law requiring motorists to yield to a funeral procession.

It is illegal for a driver to:

• Honk a motor vehicle horn, within 500 feet of the entrance being used for a funeral or memorial service.
• Block access to a facility being used for the service.
• Impede vehicles that he or she knows are part of the procession.

Bicyclist Passing Distance

There is no specific law regarding minimum safe passing distance.

Using the Shoulder to Pass

You may not drive off the roadway to pass on the right.

Speed Limits

• 30 mph in any urban district;
• 35 mph on any unpaved road;
• 45 mph on any county-maintained paved road in an unincorporated area;
• 55 mph on highways (except interstate highways or highways with four or more lanes);
• 70 mph on interstate highways;
• 65 mph on a highway with four or more lanes;
• 55 mph for vehicles carrying explosives, flammable liquids or hazardous wastes except as authorized by the Governor

Emergency Vehicle Laws

Move Over

When you see any of these vehicles displaying flashing lights while stopped on or adjacent to the roadway:

• Law enforcement or emergency vehicle;
• Wrecker;
• Utility service vehicle;
• Garbage or recycling collection vehicle.

You must do the following:

• When driving on a highway with two or more lanes traveling in the direction of the stopped vehicle, vacate the lane closest to the vehicle. If it is not safe to move over, slow to at least 15 MPH less than posted speed limit.
• When driving on a two lane road, move as far away from the vehicle as possible within your lane. If the posted speed limit is 25 MPH or greater, slow to at least 15 MPH less than the posted speed limit. If the posted speed limit is 20 MPH or less, slow to 10 MPH.

Following

Do not follow any emergency vehicle traveling displaying visual or audible signals closer than 500 feet, or stop within 500 feet of an emergency vehicle when it is stopped in answer to an emergency call.

Collision Procedures

Stop

• Stop at the scene or as close as possible without obstructing traffic more than necessary, and remain at the scene until all requirements are fulfilled.

Provide Information

Provide the following information to any other person involved in the accident, or to any police officer at the scene of the crash:

• Driver's name and address;
• Vehicle registration number;
• Show driver's license upon request.

Render assistance

• Provide assistance to any injured person, including transporting them or making arrangements for transportation to a hospital or doctor, if necessary or requested.

Notify authorities immediately

• If the crash resulted in injury or death, drivers involved must notify the local police department, county sheriff, or state highway patrol immediately.

Unattended vehicle or property

• If you have collided with a vehicle that is unattended, locate and notify the operator or owner of the driver's name and address and the owner's name and address. If you are unable to do so, leave a written notice providing this information and a statement of the circumstances.
• If you have collided with other unattended property on or adjacent to a highway, locate and notify the owner of the driver's name and address, the vehicle registration number, and show your driver's license if requested. You must also report the accident in writing.