SB187 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald H. AllenSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Disabled access parking placards and license plates, prohibits duplication, forgery, sale, or transfer to unentitled individual, criminal penalties, Sec. 32-6-233 am'd.

Summary

SB187 would criminalize duplicating, forging, selling, or transferring disabled parking placards and license plates to unentitled individuals, update the language, and set penalties.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill adds criminal penalties for misuse of disabled parking placards and plates, makes it illegal to duplicate or transfer them to non-qualified people, and updates the code language. It defines key terms and expands enforcement penalties, including potential jail time and fines. It also notes the act creates a new crime, is exempt from certain local-expenditure rules, and becomes effective three months after passage with the governor's approval.

Who It Affects

• Qualified disabled individuals and vehicle owners who are entitled to disabled placards/plates, whose privileges are protected from misuse.
• Anyone who would duplicate, forge, sell, transfer, or misuse a disabled placard or license plate (including those misrepresenting themselves as disabled or as owners of vehicles transporting disabled individuals), who would face criminal penalties.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits duplication, forgery, sale, or transfer of a disabled access placard or license plate to an unentitled individual.
• Provides nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update current code language and establishes criminal penalties for violations.
• Defines terms: 'Distinctive access license plate or placard' and 'Qualified disabled individual' to clarify who is entitled.
• Imposes Class B misdemeanor penalties (up to 6 months in county jail and up to $3,000 fine) for duplicating, forging, selling, or transferring placards/plates or falsifying information on applications.
• Imposes Class B misdemeanor penalties for misusing or owning a plate/placard when not entitled, including specific misrepresentations.
• Imposes Class C misdemeanor penalties (up to 3 months in county jail and up to $500 fine) for misusing parking privileges with expired placards.
• Notes the act is exempt from local expenditure approval requirements because it creates a new crime, and provides an effective date: the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Motor Vehicles