SB26 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Driver's Licenses, driving without or while suspended or revoked, subject to custodial arrest and additional revocation, determination of liability in accident caused by unlicensed drivers, restitution

Summary

SB26 would tighten penalties for driving without a license or with a suspended/revoked license, add custodial arrest and longer revocation, raise fines, and set fault and restitution rules for crashes involving unlicensed drivers.

What This Bill Does

It would allow custodial arrest for driving without a license or with a cancelled, denied, suspended, or revoked license and would require an additional six-month license revocation. It increases the minimum fine from $100 to $200 and adds a $50 penalty to the Traffic Safety Trust Fund and POST; the Director of Public Safety could revoke the license for an additional six months. It also creates rules that accidents involving unlicensed or suspended/revoked drivers are judged with negligence for fault and may require restitution to injured parties. Finally, it establishes vehicle impoundment procedures for these offenses, including towing, storage, and liens on the vehicle.

Who It Affects

• Drivers who operate a vehicle without a license or with a cancelled, denied, suspended, or revoked license: subject to custodial arrest, higher fines, potential imprisonment, license confiscation, and longer revocation periods.
• Injured parties or those financially affected by crashes involving unlicensed or suspended/revoked drivers: may seek restitution for damages, and law enforcement and towing services would implement impoundment and related fee collection.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 32-6-19 to punish driving with a cancelled, denied, suspended, or revoked license as a misdemeanor with fines of $100-$500, possible imprisonment up to 180 days, adds a $50 penalty to the Traffic Safety Trust Fund and POST, and allows the Director of Public Safety to revoke the license for an additional six months; license confiscation upon conviction.
• Adds custodial arrest authority for driving without a license or with a cancelled/denied/suspended/revoked license.
• Raises the minimum fine for these offenses from $100 to $200 (maximum $500).
• Creates a rule that a driver involved in an accident who is unlicensed or suspended/revoked is deemed negligent for fault determination and may owe restitution to injured parties.
• Imposes vehicle impoundment: vehicles driven by someone with a revoked or suspended license (or DUI-related suspensions/implied consent violations) must be impounded; towing to a storage location; fees collected; lien held by the towing company.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.
• Constitutional note: the bill acknowledges it creates or amends a crime and is exempt from local fund approval requirements under Amendment 621.

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

Subjects

Drivers' Licenses