Alabama

GHSA maintains data on state laws surrounding a number of highway safety issues. Below is information regarding laws in the state of Alabama. For more information, consult the State Highway Safety Office.

  • Alcohol Impaired Driving

    Penalties

    Increased Penalty for High BAC Administrative License Suspension on First Offense Limited Driving Privileges During Suspension
    .15 90 days  

    Ignition Interlocks

    Mandatory for high BAC (0.15 and above), refusal to provide BAC, presence of a child under 14 years of age, If someone besides the offender was injured at the time of the offense and all repeat offenders

    Other

    Open Container Laws Repeat Offender Laws
    Yes Yes

     

  • Bicyclists and Pedestrians

    Bicycle helmets required for all riders under 16.

  • Child Passenger Safety

    Child Restraint Required

    Child Restraint Required
    Up to 1 year old or 20 pounds must use a rear-facing seat
    1 year or 20 pounds to 5 years or 40 pounds in a forward-facing seat
    At least 5 years or 40 pounds to use a booster seat.
    Booster seats until the child is six years of age.
     

    Adult Safety Belt Permissible

    6-14 years

  • Distracted Driving

    Hand-Held Ban?

    Yes. Secondary Law.

    All Cell Phone Ban?

    School Bus Drivers

    Yes

    Novice Drivers

    16, or 17 with Intermediate License for less than 6 months. Primary law.

    Text Messaging Ban?

    All drivers. Primary law.

  • Drug Impaired Driving

    DUID Zero Tolerance or Per se Laws for Some Drugs

    • None

    Marijuana-Specific Laws

    • Possession and Use: Illegal
    • Impaired Driving: None
  • Mature Drivers

    Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

    4 years

    Provisions for Mature Drivers

    None

     

  • Motorcyclists

    Universal helmet law enacted 1967

  • Seat Belts

    Type of Law

    Primary

    Who Is Covered?

    15 and over

    In What Seat?

    All

  • Speed and Red Light Cameras

    Speed Cameras

    State Law

    Permitted by state law and city ordinance

    Where Permitted

    Specified Jurisdictions

    Red Light Cameras

    State Law

    Permitted by state law

    Where Permitted

    Specified jurisdictions

  • Speeding and Aggressive Driving

    Rural Interstates

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    70 70

    Urban Interstates

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    65 65

    Other Limited Access Roads

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    65 65

     

  • Teen and Novice Drivers

    Full Privilege Minimum Age

    17 years

    Learner Stage

    Minimum Age (Years/Months)

    Minimum Duration (Months)

    Required Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours)
    15 6 50; 0 with driver's ed.

    Intermediate Stage

    Minimum Age (Years/Months)

    		 Nighttime Driving Restriction

    Passenger Restriction (except family, unless noted)
    16 Midnight - 6 a.m. No more than 1