SB54 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Merika ColemanSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to driver license suspensions; to provide for the suspension of an individual's driver license or driving privilege in certain circumstances.

Summary

SB54 would expand driver license suspensions for failing to appear and failing to pay fines, and would add points to licenses for final traffic convictions, with commercial licenses exempt and an October 1, 2023 effective date.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill would let courts order suspensions of a driver’s license for failing to appear (either on an initial court date or two or more post-adjudication appearances) and would allow suspensions for failing to pay fines or court costs under certain conditions. It requires the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to suspend the license upon receiving the court order and excludes commercial licenses. It also adds a points system where points are placed on a driver’s license for final traffic convictions, and it defines how and when those records are forwarded to ALEA. The bill preserves existing restitution authority and does not modify certain related acts. The changes take effect October 1, 2023.

Who It Affects

• Individual non-commercial drivers in Alabama who fail to appear in court or fail to pay fines; they could have their licenses suspended and may incur points on their license for final convictions.
• State agencies and courts (ALEA, the courts, and the Supreme Court of Alabama) responsible for enforcing suspensions, adding points, and forwarding conviction records, plus the rules and timelines governing these processes.

Key Provisions

• Section 1 allows suspension of a driver license for: (a) failing to appear for an initial court date after violating a written bond to appear, or (b) failing to appear two or more times when the appearance is for a post-adjudication compliance review of court-ordered conditions; suspension happens upon receipt of the court order and excludes commercial licenses.
• Section 2 restricts suspensions for failure to pay a fine, fee, or court cost unless the individual fails to pay at least half of the required payments within one year of the court order or fails to make any further payments after one year; suspension occurs upon receipt of the court order and excludes commercial licenses.
• Section 3 requires the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to add points to a license for any traffic violation that results in a final conviction, defines final conviction to include guilty findings, pleas, or failure to appear, and requires forwarding conviction records to ALEA within specified timelines; points can only be added for final convictions, and may be added before the completion of any payment plan.
• Section 4 clarifies that the act does not change provisions of the Motor Vehicle Responsibility Act or Mandatory Liability Insurance Act, including restitution authority.
• Section 5 sets the act to become effective on October 1, 2023.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.