The Alabama DUI Attorneys at Kreps Law Firm handle drunk driving cases throughout the State of Alabama. To begin getting the help you need with your Alabama DUI, use the drop down menu below and select the county where your arrest occurred or call toll free 1-866-347-2889.
![]() |
Select the county where your arrest occrred. |
If you have been charged with an Alabama DUI there are two things that
you need to consider:
1) Take the charge seriously.
A conviction for an Alabama DUI will have long lasting consequences. A
criminal record can affect your employment, your future and your
personal freedom.
2) Hire an experienced Alabama DUI Lawyer.
Understanding the Alabama DUI laws and courtroom proceedings can be a
challenge. The Alabama DUI Lawyers at Kreps Law Firm focus on DUI
defense and they can make a difference in the outcome of your case.
The Alabama DUI Defense Attorneys at Kreps Law Firm offer an initial review of your case. Your inquiry is both free and confidential.
To fight your Alabama DUI, contact Kreps Law Firm, but do so now as time is very critical if you want to keep your driver's license and win your case.
Alabama DUI Laws and Drunk Driving Information
If stopped for a Alabama DUI you will face both a criminal case
and a separate potential driver’s license revocation case.
Alabama DUI charges can be prosecuted in two separate ways, the first is charges brought against someone who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The second way an Alabama DUI arrest can be made is based on violation of Alabama’s per se laws, making it a crime to drive with a blood alcohol level of .08% or higher.
Alabama is what is called an "actual physical control" state, which means that under Alabama DUI laws this is the exclusive physical power and present ability a person has to potentially operate a motor vehicle while impaired. Which can mean just physically being in a car while intoxicated even if you are not driving the vehicle may be enough for a Alabama DUI arrest.
The penalty you may receive pending an Alabama DUI conviction will range based on the number of prior DUI convictions you may have. This will help determine whether or not the offense will be a misdemeanor or a felony.
Alabama DUI laws only allow you 10 days to make a request to save your Alabama drivers license, this is most commonly done by an experienced Alabama DUI defense attorney you have hired.
Alabama DUI
Laws
Section 32-5A-191
Driving while under influence of
alcohol, controlled substances, etc.
(a) A person shall not drive or be in actual physical control of any vehicle while:
(1) There is 0.08 percent or more by weight of alcohol in his or her
blood;
(2) Under the influence of alcohol;
(3) Under the influence of a controlled substance to a degree which
renders him or her incapable of safely driving;
(4) Under the combined influence of alcohol and a controlled substance
to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely driving;
or
(5) Under the influence of any substance which impairs the mental or
physical faculties of such person to a degree which renders him or her
incapable of safely driving.
(b) A person who is under the
age of 21 years shall not drive or be in actual physical control of any
vehicle if there is .02 percentage or more by weight of alcohol in his
or her blood. The Department of Public Safety shall suspend or revoke
the driver's license of any person, including, but not limited to, a
juvenile, child, or youthful offender, convicted or adjudicated of, or
subjected to a finding of delinquency based on this subsection.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the first violation of this
subsection by a person whose blood alcohol level is between .02 and
.08, the person's driver's license or driving privilege shall be
suspended for a period of 30 days in lieu of any penalties provided in
subsection (e) of this section and there shall be no disclosure, other
than to courts, law enforcement agencies, and the person's employer, by
any entity or person of any information, documents, or records relating
to the person's arrest, conviction, or adjudication of or finding of
delinquency based on this subsection.
All persons, except as otherwise provided in this subsection for a
first offense, including, but not limited to, a juvenile, child, or
youthful offender, convicted or adjudicated of, or subjected to a
finding of delinquency based on this subsection shall be fined pursuant
to this section, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, and the
person shall also be required to attend and complete a DUI or substance
abuse court referral program in accordance with subsection (i).
(c)
(1) A school bus or day care driver shall not drive or be in actual physical control of any vehicle while in performance of his or her duties if there is greater than .02 percentage by weight of alcohol in his or her blood. A person convicted pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to the penalties provided by this section except that on the first conviction the Director of Public Safety shall suspend the driving privilege or driver's license for a period of one year.
(2) A person shall not drive or be in actual physical control of a
commercial motor vehicle as defined in 49 CFR Part 390.5 of the Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Regulations as adopted pursuant to Section
32-9A-2, if there is .04 percentage or greater by weight of alcohol in
his or her blood. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section,
the commercial driver's license or commercial driving privilege of a
person convicted of violating this subdivision shall be suspended for
the period provided in accordance with 49 CFR Part 383.51 or 49 CFR
Part 391.15, as applicable, and the person's regular driver's license
or privilege to drive a regular motor vehicle shall be governed by the
remainder of this section if the person is guilty of a violation of
another provision of this section.
(d)The fact that any person
charged with violating this section is or has been legally entitled to
use alcohol or a controlled substance shall not constitute a defense
against any charge of violating this section.
(e) Upon first conviction, a
person violating this section shall be punished by imprisonment in the
county or municipal jail for not more than one year, or by fine of not
less than six hundred dollars ($600) nor more than two thousand one
hundred dollars ($2,100), or by both a fine and imprisonment. In
addition, on a first conviction, the Director of Public Safety shall
suspend the driving privilege or driver's license of the person
convicted for a period of 90 days.
(f) On a second conviction
within a five-year period, a person convicted of violating this section
shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand one hundred
dollars ($1,100) nor more than five thousand one hundred dollars
($5,100) and by imprisonment, which may include hard labor in the
county or municipal jail for not more than one year. The sentence shall
include a mandatory sentence, which is not subject to suspension or
probation, of imprisonment in the county or municipal jail for not less
than five days or community service for not less than 30 days. In
addition the Director of Public Safety shall revoke the driving
privileges or driver's license of the person convicted for a period of
one year.
(g) On a third conviction, a
person convicted of violating this section shall be punished by a fine
of not less than two thousand one hundred dollars ($2,100) nor more
than ten thousand one hundred dollars ($10,100) and by imprisonment,
which may include hard labor, in the county or municipal jail for not
less than 60 days nor more than one year, to include a minimum of 60
days which shall be served in the county or municipal jail and cannot
be probated or suspended. In addition, the Director of Public Safety
shall revoke the driving privilege or driver's license of the person
convicted for a period of three years.
(h) On a fourth or subsequent
conviction, a person convicted of violating this section shall be
guilty of a Class C felony and punished by a fine of not less than four
thousand one hundred dollars ($4,100) nor more than ten thousand one
hundred dollars ($10,100) and by imprisonment of not less than one year
and one day nor more than 10 years. Any term of imprisonment may
include hard labor for the county or state, and where imprisonment does
not exceed three years confinement may be in the county jail. Where
imprisonment does not exceed one year and one day, confinement shall be
in the county jail. The minimum sentence shall include a term of
imprisonment for at least one year and one day, provided, however, that
there shall be a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 days which shall be
served in the county jail. The remainder of the sentence may be
suspended or probated, but only if as a condition of probation the
defendant enrolls and successfully completes a state certified chemical
dependency program recommended by the court referral officer and
approved by the sentencing court. Where probation is granted, the
sentencing court may, in its discretion, and where monitoring equipment
is available, place the defendant on house arrest under electronic
surveillance during the probationary term.
In addition to the other penalties authorized, the Director of Public Safety shall revoke the driving privilege or driver's license of the person convicted for a period of five years.
Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, the Alabama habitual felony offender law shall not apply to a conviction of a felony pursuant to this subsection, and a conviction of a felony pursuant to this subsection shall not be a felony conviction for purposes of the enhancement of punishment pursuant to Alabama's habitual felony offender law.
(i) In addition to the penalties
provided herein, any person convicted of violating this section shall
be referred to the court referral officer for evaluation and referral
to appropriate community resources. The defendant shall, at a minimum,
be required to complete a DUI or substance abuse court referral program
approved by the Administrative Office of Courts and operated in
accordance with provisions of the Mandatory Treatment Act of 1990,
Sections 12-23-1 to 12-23-19, inclusive. The Department of Public
Safety shall not reissue a driver's license to a person convicted under
this section without receiving proof that the defendant has
successfully completed the required program.
(j) Neither reckless driving nor
any other traffic infraction is a lesser included offense under a
charge of driving under the influence of alcohol or of a controlled
substance.
(k) Except for fines collected
for violations of this section charged pursuant to a municipal
ordinance, fines collected for violations of this section shall be
deposited to the State General Fund; however, beginning October 1,
1995, of any amount collected over two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for
a first conviction, over five hundred dollars ($500) for a second
conviction within five years, over one thousand dollars ($1,000) for a
third conviction within five years, and over two thousand dollars
($2,000) for a fourth or subsequent conviction within five years, the
first one hundred dollars ($100) of that additional amount shall be
deposited to the Alabama Chemical Testing Training and Equipment Trust
Fund, after three percent of the one hundred dollars ($100) is deducted
for administrative costs, and beginning October 1, 1997, and
thereafter, the second one hundred dollars ($100) of that additional
amount shall be deposited in the Impaired Drivers Trust Fund after
deducting five percent of the one hundred dollars ($100) for
administrative costs and the remainder of the funds shall be deposited
to the State General Fund. Fines collected for violations of this
section charged pursuant to a municipal ordinance where the total fine
is paid at one time shall be deposited as follows:
The first three hundred fifty dollars ($350) collected for a first
conviction, the first six hundred dollars ($600) collected for a second
conviction within five years, the first one thousand one hundred
dollars ($1,100) collected for a third conviction, and the first two
thousand one hundred dollars ($2,100) collected for a fourth or
subsequent conviction shall be deposited to the State Treasury with the
first one hundred dollars ($100) collected for each conviction credited
to the Alabama Chemical Testing Training and Equipment Trust Fund and
the second one hundred dollars ($100) to the Impaired Drivers Trust
Fund after deducting five percent of the one hundred dollars ($100) for
administrative costs and depositing this amount in the general fund of
the municipality, and the balance credited to the State General Fund.
Any amounts collected over these amounts shall be deposited as
otherwise provided by law.
Fines collected for violations of this section charged pursuant to a
municipal ordinance, where the fine is paid on a partial or installment
basis, shall be deposited as follows: The first two hundred dollars
($200) of the fine collected for any conviction shall be deposited to
the State Treasury with the first one hundred dollars ($100) collected
for any conviction credited to the Alabama Chemical Testing Training
and Equipment Trust Fund and the second one hundred dollars ($100) for
any conviction credited to the Impaired Drivers Trust Fund after
deducting five percent of the one hundred dollars ($100) for
administrative costs and depositing this amount in the general fund of
the municipality. The second three hundred dollars ($300) of the fine
collected for a first conviction, the second eight hundred dollars
($800) collected for a second conviction, the second one thousand eight
hundred dollars ($1,800) collected for a third conviction, and the
second three thousand eight hundred dollars ($3,800) collected for a
fourth conviction shall be divided with 50 percent of the funds
collected to be deposited to the State Treasury to be credited to the
State General Fund and 50 percent deposited as otherwise provided by
law for municipal ordinance violations. Any amounts collected over
these amounts shall be deposited as otherwise provided by law for
municipal ordinance violations. Notwithstanding any provision of law to
the contrary, 90 percent of any fine assessed and collected for any DUI
offense charged by municipal ordinance violation in district or circuit
court shall be computed only on the amount assessed over the minimum
fine authorized, and upon collection shall be distributed to the
municipal general fund with the remaining 10 percent distributed to the
State General Fund.
(l) A person who has been
arrested for violating this section shall not be released from jail
under bond or otherwise, until there is less than the same percent by
weight of alcohol in his or her blood as specified in subsection (a)(1)
or, in the case of a person who is under the age of 21 years,
subsection (b) hereof.
(m) Upon verification that a
defendant arrested pursuant to this section is currently on probation
from another court of this state as a result of a conviction for any
criminal offense, the prosecutor shall provide written or oral
notification of the defendant's subsequent arrest and pending
prosecution to the court in which the prior conviction occurred.
(n) When any person over the age
of 21 years is convicted pursuant to this section and a child under the
age of 14 years was present in the vehicle at the time of the offense,
the defendant shall be sentenced to double the minimum punishment that
the person would have received if the child had not been present in the
motor vehicle.
(o) Any person convicted of
driving under the influence of alcohol, or a controlled substance, or
both, or any substance which impairs the mental or physical faculties
in violation of this section, a municipal ordinance adopting this
section, or a similar law from another state more than once in a
five-year period shall have his or her motor vehicle registration for
all vehicles owned by the repeat offender suspended by the Alabama
Department of Revenue for the duration of the offender's driver's
license suspension period, unless such action would impose an undue
hardship to any individual, not including the repeat offender, who is
completely dependent on the motor vehicle for the necessities of life,
including any family member of the repeat offender and any co-owner of
the vehicle.
(Acts 1980, No. 80-434, p. 604, §9-102; Acts 1981, No. 81-803, p. 1412,
§1; Acts 1983, No. 83-620, p. 959, §1; Acts 1984, No. 84-259, p. 431,
§1; Acts 1994, No. 94-590, p. 1089, §1; Acts 1995, No. 95-784, p. 1862,
§2; Acts 1996, No. 96-341, p. 416, §1; Acts 1996, No. 96-705, p. 1174,
§1; Acts 1997, No. 97-556, p. 985, §1; Act 99-432, p. 787, §1; Act
2000-677, p. 1376, §1; Act 2002-502, p. 1299, §1; Act 2005-326, 1st Sp.
Sess., §1.)
