HB461 Alabama 2014 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Low Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Dickie Drake
Republican
Co-Sponsors: Jim Patterson Jim McClendon Jim Carns David Standridge Joe Faust Kurt Wallace Alan Baker
Session: Regular Session 2014
Title: Motor vehicles, distinctive license plates for professional firefighters, penalties
Summary: HB461 creates a distinctive license plate for paid professional firefighters, establishes the issuance process and penalties for fraud, and updates special veteran plates with related provisions while noting an exemption from local funding requirements.
What This Bill Does
Allows paid professional firefighters to apply for a distinctive license plate for their privately owned vehicles, with a design approved in cooperation with the state association of professional firefighters. Sets up an annual eligibility process where the Firefighters' Personnel Standards and Education Commission must provide lists of eligible firefighters to license officials, and allows late joiners to obtain the plate with chief-certified proof, for a regular license fee. Imposes a Class C misdemeanor on anyone who falsely obtains or certifies someone to obtain the firefighter plate if they are not qualified, and requires the plate to be used in place of the standard plate on the eligible firefighter's personal vehicle. Amends existing special plates for Medal of Honor, Legion of Valor, Purple Heart, and former prisoner of war recipients, including making Legion of Valor members eligible for a free plate and clarifying fee and tax rules for these plates.

Who It Affects
Paid professional firefighters who would be eligible to receive a distinctive license plate for their personal vehicles.
Firefighters' Personnel Standards and Education Commission, which must compile and provide annual eligibility lists.
Judges of probate, license commissioners, and other license issuing officials who would issue the plates and collect standard license fees.
Recipients or potential recipients of MOH, LOV, PHM, and POW distinctive plates, including Legion of Valor members who would receive a free plate, and Purple Heart recipients who pay ad valorem taxes on vehicles with their plate.

Key Provisions
Section 2: Establishes a distinctive firefighter plate to be issued to paid professional firefighters, with a plate design created collaboratively by the state association of professional firefighters and the tag department; design applies to both motor vehicle and motorcycle plates.
Section 3: Outlines issuance: plates issued through probate judges/license issuing officials upon ID verification and payment of regular license fees; annual eligibility lists due by December 1; late joiners or omissions may obtain with chief-certified proof; plates are for privately owned vehicles and replace the standard plate while on the vehicle.
Section 3(f): Establishes a Class C misdemeanor penalty for falsely obtaining or certifying someone to obtain a professional firefighter plate.
Section 4: The distinctive firefighter plates become available for the 2015 licensing year and follow normal issuance rules thereafter.
Section 5: Amends 32-6-250 and 32-6-251 to provide distinctive plates for MOH, LOV, PHM, and POW recipients, with free plates for certain groups (e.g., Legion of Valor) and tax/fee rules (Purple Heart plates may incur ad valorem taxes).
Section 7: Excludes the bill from additional local funding requirements under Amendment 621 because it defines a new crime or amends an existing crime.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Motor Vehicles