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SB242 ENROLLED
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SB242
XD1RRE7-2
By Senator Bell
RFD: Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development
First Read: 03-Feb-26
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First Read: 03-Feb-26
Enrolled, An Act,
Relating to commercial driver licenses; to amend
Section 32-6-49.18, Code of Alabama 1975, to require certain
commercial driver license holders to possess a United States
work authorization to operate a commercial motor vehicle
within the state; to require an operator of a commercial motor
vehicle to have proficiency in the English language; to
provide for certain impoundment procedures; to create the
offense of presenting a false foreign commercial driver
license; to create the offense of operating a commercial motor
vehicle without proper documentation; and to provide for
penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 32-6-49.18, Code of Alabama 1975, is
amended to read as follows:
"§32-6-49.18
(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a an
person individual may drive a commercial motor vehicle in this
state if the individual meets the following requirements:
(1) the person The individual has:
a. a A valid commercial driver license or commercial
driver license instruction learner permit issued by any state
or provinces or territories of Canada , territory, or
possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in accordance with the minimum
federal standards for the issuance of commercial motor vehicle
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federal standards for the issuance of commercial motor vehicle
driver licenses , ; or
b. Both a commercial driver license or commercial
learner permit issued by Canada, Mexico, or any other
jurisdiction under a waiver or exemption recognized by the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the additional
entry documents required under 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(b)(4).
(2)if the The license is not suspended, revoked, or
canceled; and if the person individual is not disqualified from
driving a commercial motor vehicle, or subject to an out of
service order.
(b) The department must Alabama State Law Enforcement
Agency shall give all out of state convictions full faith and
credit and treat them for sanctioning purposes under this
article as if they occurred in this state."
Section 2. Division 3, commencing with Section
32-6-49.60, is added to Article 1A of Chapter 6 of Title 32,
Code of Alabama 1975, to read as follows:
Division 3
§32-6-49.60
This division shall be known and may cited as the
Highway Safety and Fairness Act.
§32-6-49.61
For the purposes of this division, the following terms
have the following meanings:
(1) COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE (CDL). A license issued
to an individual in accordance with the requirements of this
article, which authorizes the individual to drive a class of
commercial motor vehicle.
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commercial motor vehicle.
(2) COMMERCIAL LEARNER PERMIT (CLP). A permit issued to
an individual by a state or other jurisdiction of domicile, in
accordance with the standards contained in 49 C.F.R. Part 383,
which, when carried with a valid driver license issued by the
same state or jurisdiction, authorizes the individual to
operate a class of a commercial motor vehicle when accompanied
by a holder of a valid CDL for purposes of behind-the-wheel
training.
(3) COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE. The term as defined under
Section 32-6-49.3.
(4) FOREIGN GOVERNMENT. Any jurisdiction other than a
state, territory, province, or possession of the United
States.
(5) PUBLIC DOCUMENT. a. All official books, papers,
exhibits, or records of any type required by law to be created
by or received and retained in a governmental office or
agency, affording notice or information to the public or
constituting a memorial of an act or transaction of a public
office or public servant.
b. A license, certificate, permit, seal, title, letter
of patent, or similar document issued by a state, territory,
or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia,
or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a foreign government
engaged in a reciprocal treaty or memorandum of understanding
with the United States.
§32-6-49.62
(a) An individual commits the offense of presenting a
false foreign commercial driver license if the individual
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false foreign commercial driver license if the individual
knowingly:
(1) Makes, presents, or uses a public document with
knowledge of the falsity of the public document and with the
intent that the public document be taken as a genuine public
document; and
(2) Represents that a false public document made,
presented, or used under subdivision (1) is a valid commercial
driver license or commercial learner permit issued by a
foreign government.
(b) A violation of this section is a Class D felony.
§32-6-49.63
(a) An individual commits the offense of operating a
commercial motor vehicle without proper documentation if the
individual knowingly:
(1) Holds a valid commercial driver license issued by a
foreign government; and
(2) Does not have the additional entry documents
required under 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(b)(4) in his or her immediate
possession while operating a commercial motor vehicle.
(b)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (2), a
violation of this section is a Class D felony and subject to
any of the following:
a. The impounding of the commercial motor vehicle.
b. A one thousand dollar ($1,000) fine for the driver.
c. A two thousand dollar ($2,000) fine for the
commercial motor carrier.
(2) A violation of this section is a Class A
misdemeanor if the individual establishes by a preponderance
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misdemeanor if the individual establishes by a preponderance
of the evidence that at the time the offense was committed,
the individual had been issued the additional entry documents
required under 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(b)(4).
§32-6-49.64
(a) An operator of a commercial motor vehicle shall be
able to read and speak the English language sufficiently to
meet the English language proficiency requirements under 49
C.F.R. § 391.11.
(b) An individual commits the offense of operating a
commercial motor vehicle without sufficient English language
proficiency if the individual:
(1) Operates a commercial motor vehicle; and
(2) Fails to demonstrate proficiency in the English
language as required under subsection (a).
(c)(1) For a first violation of this section, a person
who violates this section is guilty of a traffic violation,
which shall be punished by a fine of up to one thousand
dollars ($1,000) for the operator, a fine of up to two
thousand dollars ($2,000) for the commercial motor carrier,
and the impoundment of the commercial motor vehicle if it is
determined that the operator or the commercial motor vehicle
poses a threat to public safety.
(2) A second or subsequent violation of this section
shall be punished by a fine of up to two thousand dollars
($2,000) for the operator, a fine of up to four thousand
dollars ($4,000) for the commercial motor carrier, and the
impoundment of the commercial motor vehicle.
(d)(1) The law enforcement officer making the
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(d)(1) The law enforcement officer making the
impoundment shall direct an approved towing service to tow the
commercial motor vehicle to the garage of the towing service,
storage lot, or other place of safety and maintain custody and
control of the commercial motor vehicle until the registered
owner or authorized agent of the registered owner claims the
commercial motor vehicle by paying all reasonable and
customary towing and storage fees for the services of the
towing company. The commercial motor vehicle shall then be
released to the registered owner or an agent of the owner.
(2) Any towing service or towing company removing the
commercial motor vehicle at the direction of the law
enforcement officer in accordance with this section shall have
a lien on the commercial motor vehicle for all reasonable and
customary fees relating to the towing and storage of the
commercial motor vehicle. This lien shall be subject and
subordinate to all prior security interests and other liens
affecting the commercial motor vehicle whether evidenced on
the certificate of title or otherwise. Notice of any sale or
other proceedings relative to this lien shall be given to the
holders of all prior security interest or other liens by
official service of process at least 15 days prior to any sale
or other proceedings.
(3) Any person in possession of a commercial motor
vehicle impounded pursuant to this section shall be subject to
the provisions of Chapter 13 of Title 32, relating to the
impoundment and sale of abandoned vehicles; Section 32-8-84,
relating to the procedures for unclaimed vehicles; and Section
41-27-61, relating to the procedures for freight retrieval of
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41-27-61, relating to the procedures for freight retrieval of
impounded commercial vehicles.
Section 3. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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1, 2026.
________________________________________________
President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Representatives
SB242
Senate 17-Feb-26
I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and passed
the Senate.
Patrick Harris,
Secretary.
House of Representatives
Amended and passed: 05-Mar-26
Senate concurred in House amendment 05-Mar-26
By: Senator Bell
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