Traffic Charges in North Alabama: What Each One Carries
Alabama traffic charges run from payable tickets to criminal offences carrying jail. The difference matters, and the paperwork does not always make it obvious.
The thread running through all of them is the point system: points count for two years from conviction, and 12 points in a two-year period is a 60-day suspension.
The charges, by seriousness
| Charge | Points | What it really is |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding 1–25 mph over | 2 | Payable in most courts. Still a conviction |
| Disregarding a traffic control device | 3 | Payable in most courts |
| Following too closely | 3 | Payable in most courts |
| Illegal passing / wrong side of road | 4 | Worth looking at, particularly with other points |
| Failure to yield right of way | 5 | Often charged after an accident |
| Speeding 26+ mph over | 5 | Five points from one ticket |
| Passing a stopped school bus | 5 | Taken seriously by every court |
| Reckless driving | 6 | Criminal charge. 5–90 days on a first conviction under § 32-5A-190 |
| Alcohol-related conviction not requiring mandatory revocation | 6 | See DUI — a separate process with a 10-day licence deadline |
It is not a fee that makes the matter go away. The conviction is entered, the points are assessed, and your insurer generally finds out. That is fine when your record is clean and the charge is minor. It is expensive when it is not.
Ala. Admin. Code r. 760-X-1-.07.Not sure how serious your citation is?
Read us what it says. Telling you whether it is a payable ticket or a criminal charge takes about a minute.
The two that are not tickets
- Reckless driving — Ala. Code § 32-5A-190. Imprisonment of not less than five days nor more than 90 days on a first conviction, or a fine of $25 to $500, or both. Six points. On a second or subsequent conviction, 10 days to six months, and the court may suspend driving privileges for up to six months.
- DUI — a separate process entirely, with an administrative licence case running alongside the criminal case. That one has a 10-day deadline that runs whether or not you act.
When it is worth fighting a ticket
- You are near 12 pointsOne more conviction can cost you 60 days of driving.
- You hold a commercial licence, or drive for workThe consequences are of a different order.
- It is a five or six point charge26+ over, failure to yield, school bus, reckless.
- There was an accidentA traffic conviction can matter in a civil claim arising from the same collision.
- You have already missed a court dateSay so immediately. Failure to appear is worse than the underlying charge and it compounds.
- You are already suspendedDriving while suspended is its own offence and it escalates fast.
Which court
The citation names it. A city police stop goes to that municipality’s court; a county or state trooper stop goes to district court.
I-65 and US-72 stops commonly land here
What we handle
Traffic charges and DUI. We do not handle felony criminal defence — including a fourth or subsequent DUI, which is a Class C felony under § 32-5A-191. If your matter is outside what we do, we will tell you on the first call.
Traffic charge questions
How many points before my licence is suspended in Alabama?
12 to 14 points in a two-year period is 60 days; 15 to 17 is 90 days; 18 to 20 is 120 days; 21 to 23 is 180 days; 24 or more is 365 days, under Ala. Admin. Code r. 760-X-1-.07.
How long do points last?
Convictions retain their point value for suspension purposes for two years from the date of conviction.
Is paying a ticket the same as pleading guilty?
Yes. The conviction is entered and the points are assessed. It closes the court file; it does not avoid the consequences.
What happens if I miss my court date?
It can lead to a warrant and to a separate licence suspension, and it is significantly worse than the original charge. If you have already missed one, say so on the first call.
Can a lawyer appear for me so I do not have to?
In many traffic matters, yes, depending on the charge and the court. Tell us which court is on the citation and we will tell you.
Does an out-of-state driver still have to deal with an Alabama ticket?
Yes, and ignoring it usually creates problems in your home state as well. Deal with it while it is small.
Read us the citation
Traffic and DUI defence across Limestone, Madison, Morgan, Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin and Lawrence Counties.
Daniel Shawn Pickens
Attorney at Daniel S. Pickens Law in Athens, Alabama. The firm handles DUI and traffic defense, real estate closings and title work, estate planning and probate, deeds, business formation and contracts for clients across Limestone, Madison, Morgan, Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin and Lawrence Counties.