Alabama DUI Laws

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The maximum prescribed legal BAC limit in Alabama is 0.08% per se
(effective from Oct 1st 1995)

(If you’ve been charged with Alabama DUI, the law allows only 10 days for you and/or your Alabama DUI Lawyer to make a request with the Alabama Department of Public Safety for a hearing to save your driving license)

Alabama DUI Laws and BAC limits

ALL DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.08%
In the State of Alabama it is crime for ANY driver to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.08% and above.

COMMERCIAL DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.04%
It is a crime for commercial vehicle operators to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.04% or above.

MINOR (under the age of 21) - BAC LIMIT = 0.02%
It is a crime for persons under 21 years of age to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.02% or above.

SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.02%
It is a crime for school bus drivers to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.02% or above.

DAYCARE DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.02%
It is a crime for daycare drivers to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.02% or above.

It is an offense to refuse to submit to a chemical test in Alabama and implied consent laws are enforced.

Alabama BAC Calculator

BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT CALCULATOR Calculate your BAC using our calculator, know your legal drunk driving limits and stay safe!!

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Penalties for DUI - Drunk Driving in Alabama

Alabama is a state with a five year ‘washout period’, also known as a 'look back period'.

PRIOR CONVICTIONS: OUT OF STATE CONVICTIONS
Prior DUI convictions within a five year period either in the state of Alabama or another state or territory shall be considered by the courts when imposing sentences.

INCREASED PENALTIES: AGGRAVATED DUI
The minimum sentence is double the usual sanction if an offender older than 21 was operating a motor vehicle while transporting a passenger younger than age 14 at the time of the offense.

'DOUBLE DRUNK' DUI
If the offender had a BAC (blood alcohol content) of 0.15% or more they will be sentenced to double the minimum punishment they would have otherwise received if they had under 0.15% and above 0.08%, they will also receive a revocation of their driving privileges for a period of not less than 1 year.

First DUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - CLASS A Misdemeanor

The penalty for a first DUI - drunk driving conviction in Alabama:

• Fine: $600 to $2,100 fine
• Jail: up to one year (365 days) in county or municipal jail (no mandatory minimum sentence)
• Drivers License Suspension: 90 days drivers license suspension
• Ignition Interlock: [High BAC] If BAC 0.15% or greater an IID - ignition interlock device must be installed on designated motor vehicle(s) for 2 years from date of driving license issuance (if a child under the age of 14 was in the vehicle at the time of the offense or if someone else besides the offender was inured at the time of the offense an IID - ignition interlock device must also be installed)
• attendance at a DUI or substance abuse court referral program which must be completed before driving license will be re-issued
• Alabama SR22 insurance requirement

Second DUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - CLASS A Misdemeanor

The penalty for a second DUI - drunk driving conviction in Alabama:

• Fine: $1,100 to $5,100 fine
• Jail: mandatory 5 days up to - to one year (356 days) in county or municipal jail
• Drivers License Revocation: 1 year revocation of drivers license
• Ignition Interlock: IID - ignition interlock device must be installed on designated motor vehicle(s) for 2 years from date of driving license issuance
• possible 30 days community service in lieu of jail time
• attendance at a DUI or substance abuse court referral program which must be completed before driving license will be re-issued
• possible suspension of the registration of all vehicles owned by the offender for the duration of the drivers license revocation period
• Alabama SR22 insurance requirement

Third DUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - CLASS A Misdemeanor

The penalty for a third DUI - drunk driving conviction in Alabama:

• Fine: $2,100 to $10,100 fine
• Jail: mandatory 60 days - up to one year (365 days) in county or municipal jail
• Drivers License Revocation: 3 year revocation of drivers license
• Ignition Interlock: IID - ignition interlock device must be installed on designated motor vehicle(s) for 3 years from date of driving license issuance
• attendance at a DUI or substance abuse court referral program which must be completed before driving license will be re-issued
• possible suspension of the registration of all vehicles owned by the offender for the duration of the drivers license revocation period
• Alabama SR22 insurance requirement

Fourth (and subsequent) DUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - CLASS C Felony

The penalty for a fourth DUI - drunk driving conviction in Alabama:

• Fine: $4,100 to $10,100 fine
• Jail: mandatory one year and one day - up to ten years imprisonment (where imprisonment does not exceed 3 years confinement may be in the county jail)
• Drivers License Revocation: 5 year revocation of drivers license
• Ignition Interlock: IID - ignition interlock device must be installed on designated motor vehicle(s) for 5 years from date of driving license issuance
• attendance at a DUI or substance abuse court referral program which must be completed before driving license will be re-issued
• possible suspension of the registration of all vehicles owned by the offender for the duration of the drivers license revocation period
• possible attendance at state certified chemical dependency treatment program
• Alabama SR22 insurance requirement

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Implied consent LAWS

It is an offense to refuse to submit to a chemical test in Alabama and implied consent laws are enforced.

The implied consent law in Alabama states that "Any person who operates a motor vehicle upon the public highways of this state shall be deemed to have given his consent to a chemical test or tests of his blood, breath, or urine to determine blood alcohol content" If any person refuses to take the test requested by a police officer their drivers license will be suspended.

Penalties for refusing to submit to a chemical test in Alabama

In Alabama, if the accused refuses to take a chemical test of their blood, breath or urine, their drivers license will be suspended/revoked.

CHEMICAL TEST - FIRST REFUSAL

• Drivers License Suspension: 90 days drivers license suspension
• Ignition Interlock: IID - ignition interlock device must be installed on designated motor vehicle(s) for 2 years from date of driving license issuance

If operating a commercial vehicle a chemical test is refused then it is a 1 year drivers license suspension.

Chemical Test - Second Refusal

• Drivers License Suspension: 1 year drivers license suspension
• Ignition Interlock: IID - ignition interlock device must be installed on designated motor vehicle(s) for 4 years from date of driving license issuance

Chemical Test - third Refusal

• Drivers License Suspension: 3 years drivers license suspension
• Ignition Interlock: IID - ignition interlock device must be installed on designated motor vehicle(s) for 6 years from date of driving license issuance

Chemical Test - Fourth (and subsequent) Refusal

• Drivers License Suspension: 5 years drivers license suspension
• Ignition Interlock: IID - ignition interlock device must be installed on designated motor vehicle(s) for 10 years from date of driving license issuance

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Alabama SR22 insurance (High RIsk Auto Insurance)

list of auto insurance companies we search to find you the best rate

Alabama SR-22 auto insurance is typically required for a period of 3 years after an Alabama DUI - drunk driving - alcohol related driving conviction and can be very expensive if you go with the wrong provider.  Some insurance companies will not even do an SR22 insurance filing. Get a FREE DUI SR22 auto insurance quote and compare rates to find the best deal, simply enter your ZIP code above and you can be comparing prices for Alabama auto insurance in a matter of minutes. Minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in the state of Alabama

The minimum mandatory liability insurance coverage required in the state of Alabama for private passenger vehicles is (25/50/25). This equates to the following liability coverage:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability (BIL) per person
• $50,000 for two or more people in one accident
• $25,000 property damage liability (PDL) coverage

What is (BIL) Bodily Injury Liability insurance?

(BIL) Bodily Injury Liability insurance coverage will pay for serious and permanent injury or death to other people when a crash is caused by the insured. An auto insurance company will pay for injuries up to the limits specified in an insurance policy and will provide legal representation for the insured in the event someone tries to sue them.

What is (PDL) Property Damage Liability insurance?

(PDL) Property Damage Liability insurance coverage pays for damages an insured driver or members of an insured drivers family cause (and are liable for) to other people's property in a crash involving a motor vehicle.

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FREE DUI / DWI Case evaluation & by local Alabama Lawyer

OR

Protect your rights! Talk to a local DUI lawyer Alabama DUI cases tend to move quickly through the system, and there may be important deadlines that affect your right to assert certain defenses or call witnesses. It’s important that you understand the process your Alabama drunk driving case will follow and the important requirements and deadlines before you take any action—but you can’t afford to delay. Talk to a local Alabama Drunk Driving Attorney as soon as possible to gather important information such as: • What penalties do you face if convicted of DUI in Alabama? • What are the indirect penalties, such as increased insurance rates and diminished job opportunities in Alabama? • Does Alabama have a mandatory ignition interlock device law? • Was your breathalyzer or blood alcohol content (BAC) test properly administered in accordance with Alabama laws and procedures ? • When and how can you get your driver’s license reinstated in Alabama? It’s easy to make mistakes under pressure, so make sure that you have the information you need to make good, educated decisions during this process. Contact a local Alabama criminal defense attorney specializing in Alabama drunk driving laws today.

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Disclaimer: While every effort is made to keep all information up to date, the Alabama drunk driving laws change frequently and the information provided on this web site should not be construed as legal advice, nor is it necessarily complete. Drinkdriving.org shall not be held responsible for any actions a person may take as a result of information gathered from this web site. Consultation with a local Alabama DUI lawyer is recommended in all cases.

Useful Alabama DUI Links:

DUI - Drunk Driving Laws in Alabama

Alabama Drivers Manual

Alabama SR22 Insurance Requirement

Alabama Department of Public Safety

Alabama Motor Vehicle Division

Alabama Department of Transportation

Alabama Online Judicial System

Alabama Department of Insurance

Alabama DUI Lawyers

Alabama DUI discussion forum

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Latest Alabama DUI News

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ABC News

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