(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to mutilate or alter, for the purpose of deception, any motor vehicle tag, plate, or validation stamp or to use upon any motor vehicle any tags, plates, or validation stamps in imitation of or substitution for authorized issued tags, plates, or validation stamps. It shall be the duty of all sheriffs, police officers, state troopers, license inspectors, deputy license inspectors, and field agents of the Department of Revenue to arrest any person violating the provisions of this section, and upon conviction of any such person a fine of not less than $25 nor exceeding $100 shall be imposed for each offense. The license inspector shall receive a fee of $1.50 for making such arrest, which arrest fee shall be collected as a part of the costs in any such action before a court of competent jurisdiction.
(b) In case the tag, plate, or validation stamp becomes so mutilated as to make it illegible, the owner of the vehicle must file with the county probate judge an application setting forth the facts that the tag, plate, or validation stamp or one of them has been lost, mutilated, or destroyed; and, upon payment of $2 and the surrender of the tag, if mutilated, the probate judge or the appropriate licensing authority established by local act shall forward $1 to the state Department of Revenue, and shall issue without additional charge a replacement tag or validation stamp to the applicant. The probate judge or the appropriate licensing authority established by local act shall retain $1 for his service. Should the lost tag or plate be recovered or come into the possession of such applicant, he must immediately deliver same to the probate judge or the appropriate licensing authority established by local act. Should any person use upon any motor vehicle the old tag or validation stamp, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction be fined as provided in subsection (a) of this section, and shall in addition, be required to procure a proper license at the annual rate levied for such license.
(c) Any person using a motor vehicle with improper license plate or validation stamp, or failing to have tag, plate, or validation stamp properly displayed, shall be notified in writing by the license inspector or field agent. If after five days from the date of such notice said person fails or refuses to comply with said notice, the license inspector shall thereupon issue citation to such person to appear instanter and procure such proper license or, in the case of mutilated or lost license plate or validation stamp, to make the application and pay the amount as herein provided; where such person is cited for improperly displaying the license plate or validation stamp and fails or refuses to comply with the citation of the license inspector, such person shall be arrested and, upon conviction, fined as herein provided. In each case where the citation has been served in accordance herewith, the license inspector shall be entitled to a citation fee of $1.50.
Structure Code of Alabama
Title 40 - Revenue and Taxation.
Division 1 - General Provisions.
Section 40-12-240 - Definitions.
Section 40-12-241 - Station Wagons, Jeeps, etc., Classified as Passenger Automobiles.
Section 40-12-242.2 - License Taxes and Registration Fees-Electirc Low-Speed Vehicles.
Section 40-12-244 - License Tags and Registration Fees - Exemption for Members of Armed Forces, Etc.
Section 40-12-247 - License Taxes and Registration Fees - Hearses and Ambulances.
Section 40-12-248 - License Taxes and Registration Fees - Trucks or Truck Tractors - Generally.
Section 40-12-250 - Tags for Motor Vehicles Used by State, Etc.
Section 40-12-251 - Motor Tractors.
Section 40-12-252 - Basis of Tax for Trailers; Permanent License Plate.
Section 40-12-253 - Ad Valorem Taxation of Motor Vehicles.
Section 40-12-254 - Motor Vehicles Issued to Disabled Veterans; Fees.
Section 40-12-255 - Manufactured Homes.
Section 40-12-256 - Travel Trailers - Ad Valorem Taxation - Generally.
Section 40-12-257 - Citations for Noncompliance With Sections 40-12-255 and 40-12-256.
Section 40-12-258 - Reregistration of Certain Stored Motor Vehicles; Placement of License Tags.
Section 40-12-259 - Computation and Payment of License Tax and Registration Fee.
Section 40-12-260 - Transfer of License Plates; Registration Procedures; Receipts; Penalty.
Section 40-12-263 - Registration of Certain Commercial Vehicles Owned by Nonresidents Prohibited.
Section 40-12-264 - Time Limit for Purchase of Tags or Plates; Dealer Plates; Manufacturer Plates.
Section 40-12-265 - Mutilation or Alteration of Tags; Replacement Tags; Use of Improper Tags.
Section 40-12-267 - Date Licenses Become Due and Delinquent.
Section 40-12-268 - Other Taxes Precluded.
Section 40-12-271 - Fee of Probate Judge or County License Commissioner for Issuing License.
Section 40-12-271.1 - Exemption for Disabled Veterans From License Plate Issuance Fee.
Section 40-12-273 - Increase in License Tax and Registration Fee Authorized.
Section 40-12-274 - Disposition of Additional Fees Collected Pursuant to Section 40-12-274.