House Bill 166 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jamie KielRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Motor vehicles; impoundment conditions and procedures, further provided; redemption procedures, further provided; issuance of local identification cards, restrictions provided

Summary

HB166 would expand Alabama's vehicle impoundment rules to include drivers operating without a license, create a redemption process, impose new penalties, and restrict local government ID card issuance.

What This Bill Does

It allows police to impound a vehicle when the operator unlawfully drives without a driver’s license, with rules for verifying license status and certain exceptions. It creates a redemption process (32-6-19.1) enabling owners or lienholders to recover impounded vehicles by presenting required documents and paying towing, storage, and administrative costs. It adds a misdemeanor for driving with a canceled, denied, suspended, or revoked license, with fines of $100–$500, up to 180 days in jail, and a $50 additional penalty that funds state and law-enforcement programs; it also allows an additional six-month license revocation in some cases. It restricts local government identification cards and bars local governments from funding license or nondriver ID procurement, with an effective date of October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Drivers and vehicle operators who lack a valid license or have a license suspended/revoked could have their vehicle impounded and face fines, possible jail time, and a required redemption process.
• Local governments, law-enforcement agencies, towing/storage companies, vehicle owners, and lienholders are affected by the impoundment procedures, redemption rules, lien rights, and restrictions on local government ID cards and funding for licenses.

Key Provisions

• Amends §32-6-9 to require drivers to carry and display a valid license, clarifies that having a valid license at the time of arrest can prevent conviction, and adds a 48-hour period to verify lawful presence with federal records (without making a final lawful presence determination).
• Adds §32-6-19.1 establishing a redemption process for impounded vehicles: the owner or representative must appear with a valid license, evidence of insurance, and the vehicle's title or sale receipt, and pay towing, storage, and administrative costs.
• Creates or expands penalties for driving with a canceled, denied, suspended, or revoked license: misdemeanor with fines of $100–$500, potential imprisonment up to 180 days, and an additional $50 penalty distributed to the Traffic Safety Trust Fund, Peace Officers Standards and Training Fund, and the issuing agency; possible extra six-month license revocation.
• Adds 'nuisance' impoundment provisions for certain license suspensions (e.g., DUI-related suspensions or implied-consent issues) and for inability to produce a license; requires verification attempts and outlines exceptions (owner present with valid license, emergencies, health-care providers).
• Outlines impoundment procedures and liens: vehicles are towed to an approved facility, held under custody with a full inventory, and a lien is placed on the vehicle for towing/storage; if not redeemed within 60 days, the vehicle may be sold or disposed of under applicable laws.
• Section 3 restricts local government ID issuance and funding: counties/municipalities may not fund license or nondriver ID procurement and may not issue local government IDs unless the applicant provides proof of identification at least as strong as that required for driver licenses.
• Effective date: October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 11, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Motor Vehicles & Traffic