Bill > HB304

This bill amends Alabama's motor vehicle laws to modify driver license requirements, impoundment procedures, and local identification card restrictions. The bill requires drivers to always have their driver's license in their immediate possession and mandates that law enforcement make reasonable efforts to verify a driver's citizenship within 48 hours of certain violations. It establishes stricter conditions for vehicle impoundment, including mandatory impoundment for drivers with revoked or suspended licenses, and creates a new process for vehicle redemption that requires owners to provide a valid driver's license, proof of insurance, and vehicle documentation while paying all associated towing and administrative fees. The bill also prohibits counties and municipalities from providing financial assistance for obtaining driver's licenses or issuing local identification cards unless the applicant meets the same identification verification standards required for driver's licenses. Penalties for driving with a suspended or revoked license are increased, including potential additional license suspension, fines between $100-$500, up to 180 days imprisonment, and mandatory $50 penalties distributed to traffic safety and peace officers' funds. The law is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.