SB145 Alabama 2011 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Cam Ward
Republican
Co-Sponsor: Bryan Taylor
Session: Regular Session 2011
Title: Drivers' licenses, suspension based on drug convictions, certain drug offenses deleted from law, certification of act by Governor to U. S. Department of Transportation, Sec. 13A-12-291 am'd.
Summary: SB145 would remove most drug-offense convictions from triggering a driver’s license suspension, leaving only drug-trafficking offenses to cause suspension, and would have Alabama certify this change to the federal government.
What This Bill Does
It amends Alabama law to delete most drug offenses from the list that require suspending a driver’s license after conviction; only trafficking in illegal drugs would still trigger suspension. It keeps existing DUI-related suspensions under the relevant DUI law. The bill also requires the Governor to certify this act to the U.S. Department of Transportation and expresses the state’s opposition to certain federal requirements on driver-suspension rules. The changes would take effect only after the U.S. Department of Transportation accepts the act.

Who It Affects
Drivers and juvenile offenders in Alabama convicted of drug offenses (excluding trafficking) would no longer have an automatic driver’s license suspension for those offenses.
Alabama state government actors, particularly the Governor and the Department of Transportation, who would certify the act to the federal government and engage with federal rules on driver suspensions.

Key Provisions
Amends Section 13A-12-291 to remove most listed drug offenses from the automatic driver’s license suspension requirement; only trafficking in illegal drugs would require suspension.
Preserves suspension for DUI-related driving offenses under the existing DUI statute (32-5A-191).
Requires the Governor to certify the act to the United States Department of Transportation.
States the Legislature’s opposition to federally mandated driver-suspension rules for drug offenses and directs certification of that opposition to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
Operative date is contingent on acceptance by the U.S. Department of Transportation; otherwise, the act is effective upon passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Crimes and Offenses