Alabama Traffic Laws: Points, Tickets, License Suspension and DUI
Alabama driving rules: point system, speeding points, traffic school, how to pay or fight a ticket, license suspension, DUI limits and penalties.
Quick answers for Alabama
- Point system
- Yes. Alabama assigns points for traffic convictions, including convictions from other states. Points counted within a 2-year period lead to suspension: 12–14 points, 60 days; 15–17 points, 90 days; 18–20 points, 120 days; Ala. Admin. Code r. 760-X-1-.07; Code of Ala. § 32-5A-195
- Points for speeding
- Speeding 1 to 25 mph over the limit is 2 points. Speeding 26 mph or more over the limit is 5 points. Ala. Admin. Code r. 760-X-1-.07
- Legal BAC limit
- 0.08% for drivers age 21 and older; 0.04% for commercial vehicle drivers; 0.02% for drivers under 21; 0.02% for school bus and daycare drivers. A driver can also be charged while under the influence at a lower level. ALEA Driver License Manual (Nov. 2024), ch. 4; Code of Ala. § 32-5A-191
- First-offense DUI penalties
- First conviction: fine of $600 to $2,100, up to one year in jail, or both, and a 90-day license suspension. ALEA Driver License Manual (Nov. 2024), ch. 4; Code of Ala. § 32-5A-191
Last verified: 2026-10-27
Tickets and points
| Point system | Yes. Alabama assigns points for traffic convictions, including convictions from other states. Points counted within a 2-year period lead to suspension: 12–14 points, 60 days; 15–17 points, 90 days; 18–20 points, 120 days; 21–23 points, 180 days; 24 or more points, 365 days. A driver can request an administrative hearing; a request made within 10 days of the notice defers the suspension until the hearing, and the result can be appealed to circuit court within 30 days. |
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| Points for speeding | Speeding 1 to 25 mph over the limit is 2 points. Speeding 26 mph or more over the limit is 5 points. Source: Ala. Admin. Code r. 760-X-1-.07 |
| How long points last | After a traffic conviction is 2 years old, it no longer counts toward a points suspension, but the conviction stays on the driving record. Source: Ala. Admin. Code r. 760-X-1-.07 |
| Traffic school | A driver can use the state's online traffic system (RESOLVE) to ask the court for permission to attend defensive driving school; the court decides and provides sign-up information. Paying the ticket ends the chance to request driving school. Pike, Calhoun, Randolph and Bullock counties do not offer defensive driving school. The court FAQ does not say exactly how completing driving school affects the ticket or points; ask the court that handles the ticket. |
| Paying or fighting a ticket | Tickets are handled by the court listed on the citation. Some charges require a court appearance; others can be resolved before the court date through resolve.alacourt.gov. Payment can be made online at AlaPay.com, by phone at 1-877-252-7294, in person or by mail to the circuit clerk. Paying is a guilty plea. To contest, plead not guilty and request a trial date through RESOLVE. If a ticket is not paid or resolved before the court date and the driver does not appear, the driver may face a late fee, license suspension and an arrest warrant. |
| Paying or looking up a ticket online | The Alabama Traffic Service Center (Administrative Office of Courts) handles statewide ticket help. Use RESOLVE (resolve.alacourt.gov) to see whether a ticket can be resolved before the court date; if not, you must appear in court. Pay online at www.AlaPay.com, by phone at 1-877-252-7294 (credit cards, 24/7), in person at the circuit clerk's window, or by mail to the circuit clerk's office. A late fee applies for failing to appear. Questions: 1-866-954-9399 or traffic@alacourt.gov. |
License suspension
| License suspension | ALEA lists reasons for suspension including accumulating points, failing to answer a traffic summons on time or failing to pay, failing to keep required SR-22 insurance, non-payment of child support, a first DUI, racing, and eluding police. Revocation is required for offenses such as a second or later DUI, vehicular homicide, a felony involving a vehicle, and leaving an injury or fatal crash. Reinstatement requires a fee of at least $100 plus any other requirements; extra fees apply for late license surrender ($50), drug-related convictions ($25) and child-support suspensions ($50). For ticket-related suspensions, the circuit clerk issues a clearance letter to submit to ALEA after the ticket is resolved. |
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| Hardship or restricted license | ALEA issues a Hardship Driver License for people in a Department of Corrections work-release program, a community corrections program, people released from DOC custody, or people whose license is suspended or revoked who cannot get reasonable transportation. It allows limited driving for work, school, worship, court-ordered programs, medical care, groceries and household needs, and voting. It costs the same as a Class D license ($36.25), is valid for one year, and can be renewed for up to three more years. Applications are submitted by email, fax or mail, not in person. |
| Checking and reinstating a license | ALEA (Alabama Law Enforcement Agency) handles reinstatements; you may reinstate online through ALEA's driver license portal (alabamadl.alea.gov) or through an ALEA reinstatement office. Reinstatement fees: $100 for a suspended or cancelled license, $175 for a revoked license, $275 for an alcohol/drug-related suspension or revocation, plus $25 additional for drug-related actions, $150 interlock issuance fee, $50 for failing to surrender a license within 30 days, and $50 for failure to pay child support. Money order, cashier's check, cash or credit card are accepted; no personal checks. A driving record (MVR) costs $5.75 online or at any ALEA Driver License Office. Online services: https://alabamadl.alea.gov/_/ |
DUI / DWI
| Legal BAC limit | 0.08% for drivers age 21 and older; 0.04% for commercial vehicle drivers; 0.02% for drivers under 21; 0.02% for school bus and daycare drivers. A driver can also be charged while under the influence at a lower level. |
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| First-offense DUI penalties | First conviction: fine of $600 to $2,100, up to one year in jail, or both, and a 90-day license suspension. Ignition interlock requirements for a first offense were not confirmed from an official page read for this record. |
| When a DUI is a felony | A fourth or later DUI conviction is a Class C felony, punishable by a fine of $4,100 to $10,100 and 1 year and 1 day to 10 years in prison (with at least 10 days served in the county jail). Prior DUI convictions count if they occurred within 10 years of the current offense. Once a person has a felony DUI conviction, every later DUI is treated as a felony no matter how long ago the earlier felony was. Separately, causing serious physical injury to another person while driving under the influence is first-degree assault, a Class B felony. Having a child under 14 in the vehicle doubles the minimum punishment but does not by itself make the offense a felony. |
| Refusing a breath test | By driving on Alabama public highways, a driver is considered to have consented to a chemical test of blood, breath or urine. A driver arrested for DUI who refuses a breath test when directed by an officer will have the license suspended. The length of a refusal suspension was not confirmed from an official page read for this record. |
| DUI lookback period | A prior DUI conviction within 10 years counts toward second-offense penalties: a fine of $1,100 to $5,100, up to one year in jail, a mandatory 48 hours in jail or 20 days of community service, and a one-year revocation. A third conviction carries a $2,100 to $10,100 fine, a mandatory minimum 60 days in jail and a three-year revocation; a fourth or later is a Class C felony. |
| How long a DUI stays on your record | The state driver manual says traffic convictions count toward a points suspension for 2 years but remain on the driver's record; it does not give a removal date for DUI convictions. Alabama's expungement law lets some people with misdemeanor or traffic convictions ask a court to expunge the record after 3 years, but it excludes convictions that are 'serious traffic offenses' under Article 9 of Chapter 5A of Title 32 of the Alabama Code. The pages read do not say outright that DUI is one of the excluded 'serious traffic offenses,' and do not state how long a DUI stays on the driving record. Ask ALEA or a circuit clerk. |
| Sobriety checkpoints | Yes, they are used. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has announced that state troopers would conduct sobriety and driver license checkpoints during holiday impaired-driving campaigns. No Alabama statute that authorizes or bans sobriety checkpoints was found. Source: ALEA news release, Sept. 3, 2020 |
Phones and distracted driving
| Phone and texting laws | Alabama's hands-free law (effective June 2024) makes it a violation to physically hold a wireless device while driving when the driver is also seen drifting across lanes without signaling, swerving or otherwise driving improperly. Fines are $50 and 1 point for a first conviction, $100 and 2 points for a second, and $150 and 3 points for a third within 24 months. Writing, sending or reading a text, instant message or email while driving is separately prohibited: fines of $25, $50 and $75 for first, second and later offenses, with 2 points each time. |
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Where to get help in Alabama
Traffic Tickets & DUI FAQ
How does the driver point system work in Alabama?
Yes. Alabama assigns points for traffic convictions, including convictions from other states. Points counted within a 2-year period lead to suspension: 12–14 points, 60 days; 15–17 points, 90 days; 18–20 points, 120 days; 21–23 points, 180 days; 24 or more points, 365 days. A driver can request an administrative hearing; a request made within 10 days of the notice defers the suspension until the hearing, and the result can be appealed to circuit court within 30 days.
How many points is a speeding ticket in Alabama?
Speeding 1 to 25 mph over the limit is 2 points. Speeding 26 mph or more over the limit is 5 points.
How long do points stay on your license in Alabama?
After a traffic conviction is 2 years old, it no longer counts toward a points suspension, but the conviction stays on the driving record.
Can traffic school remove a ticket or points in Alabama?
A driver can use the state's online traffic system (RESOLVE) to ask the court for permission to attend defensive driving school; the court decides and provides sign-up information. Paying the ticket ends the chance to request driving school. Pike, Calhoun, Randolph and Bullock counties do not offer defensive driving school.
How do I pay or look up a traffic ticket online in Alabama?
The Alabama Traffic Service Center (Administrative Office of Courts) handles statewide ticket help. Use RESOLVE (resolve.alacourt.gov) to see whether a ticket can be resolved before the court date; if not, you must appear in court. Pay online at www.AlaPay.com, by phone at 1-877-252-7294 (credit cards, 24/7), in person at the circuit clerk's window, or by mail to the circuit clerk's office. A late fee applies for failing to appear. Questions: 1-866-954-9399 or traffic@alacourt.gov.
How do I check if my license is suspended and get it reinstated in Alabama?
ALEA (Alabama Law Enforcement Agency) handles reinstatements; you may reinstate online through ALEA's driver license portal (alabamadl.alea.gov) or through an ALEA reinstatement office. Reinstatement fees: $100 for a suspended or cancelled license, $175 for a revoked license, $275 for an alcohol/drug-related suspension or revocation, plus $25 additional for drug-related actions, $150 interlock issuance fee, $50 for failing to surrender a license within 30 days, and $50 for failure to pay child support. Money order, cashier's check, cash or credit card are accepted; no personal checks. A driving record (MVR) costs $5.75 online or at any ALEA Driver License Office.
How do you pay or contest a traffic ticket in Alabama?
Tickets are handled by the court listed on the citation. Some charges require a court appearance; others can be resolved before the court date through resolve.alacourt.gov. Payment can be made online at AlaPay.com, by phone at 1-877-252-7294, in person or by mail to the circuit clerk. Paying is a guilty plea. To contest, plead not guilty and request a trial date through RESOLVE. If a ticket is not paid or resolved before the court date and the driver does not appear, the driver may face a late fee, license suspension and an arrest warrant.
What gets your license suspended in Alabama?
ALEA lists reasons for suspension including accumulating points, failing to answer a traffic summons on time or failing to pay, failing to keep required SR-22 insurance, non-payment of child support, a first DUI, racing, and eluding police. Revocation is required for offenses such as a second or later DUI, vehicular homicide, a felony involving a vehicle, and leaving an injury or fatal crash. Reinstatement requires a fee of at least $100 plus any other requirements; extra fees apply for late license surrender ($50), drug-related convictions ($25) and child-support suspensions ($50). For ticket-related suspensions, the circuit clerk issues a clearance letter to submit to ALEA after the ticket is resolved.
What is the legal blood alcohol limit in Alabama?
0.08% for drivers age 21 and older; 0.04% for commercial vehicle drivers; 0.02% for drivers under 21; 0.02% for school bus and daycare drivers. A driver can also be charged while under the influence at a lower level.
What is the penalty for a first DUI in Alabama?
First conviction: fine of $600 to $2,100, up to one year in jail, or both, and a 90-day license suspension.
What happens if you refuse a breathalyzer in Alabama?
By driving on Alabama public highways, a driver is considered to have consented to a chemical test of blood, breath or urine. A driver arrested for DUI who refuses a breath test when directed by an officer will have the license suspended.
How long does a DUI count as a prior offense in Alabama?
A prior DUI conviction within 10 years counts toward second-offense penalties: a fine of $1,100 to $5,100, up to one year in jail, a mandatory 48 hours in jail or 20 days of community service, and a one-year revocation. A third conviction carries a $2,100 to $10,100 fine, a mandatory minimum 60 days in jail and a three-year revocation; a fourth or later is a Class C felony.
Can you get a hardship license in Alabama?
ALEA issues a Hardship Driver License for people in a Department of Corrections work-release program, a community corrections program, people released from DOC custody, or people whose license is suspended or revoked who cannot get reasonable transportation. It allows limited driving for work, school, worship, court-ordered programs, medical care, groceries and household needs, and voting. It costs the same as a Class D license ($36.25), is valid for one year, and can be renewed for up to three more years. Applications are submitted by email, fax or mail, not in person.
Is it illegal to hold your phone while driving in Alabama?
Alabama's hands-free law (effective June 2024) makes it a violation to physically hold a wireless device while driving when the driver is also seen drifting across lanes without signaling, swerving or otherwise driving improperly. Fines are $50 and 1 point for a first conviction, $100 and 2 points for a second, and $150 and 3 points for a third within 24 months. Writing, sending or reading a text, instant message or email while driving is separately prohibited: fines of $25, $50 and $75 for first, second and later offenses, with 2 points each time.
Is a DUI a felony in Alabama?
A fourth or later DUI conviction is a Class C felony, punishable by a fine of $4,100 to $10,100 and 1 year and 1 day to 10 years in prison (with at least 10 days served in the county jail). Prior DUI convictions count if they occurred within 10 years of the current offense. Once a person has a felony DUI conviction, every later DUI is treated as a felony no matter how long ago the earlier felony was. Separately, causing serious physical injury to another person while driving under the influence is first-degree assault, a Class B felony. Having a child under 14 in the vehicle doubles the minimum punishment but does not by itself make the offense a felony.
How long does a DUI stay on your record in Alabama?
The state driver manual says traffic convictions count toward a points suspension for 2 years but remain on the driver's record; it does not give a removal date for DUI convictions. Alabama's expungement law lets some people with misdemeanor or traffic convictions ask a court to expunge the record after 3 years, but it excludes convictions that are 'serious traffic offenses' under Article 9 of Chapter 5A of Title 32 of the Alabama Code.
Are DUI checkpoints legal in Alabama?
Yes, they are used. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has announced that state troopers would conduct sobriety and driver license checkpoints during holiday impaired-driving campaigns.
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