(a)It shall be unlawful for the owner of any livestock or animal, as defined in Section 3-5-1, to knowingly, voluntarily, negligently , or wilfully permit any such livestock or animal to [run at large in the State of Alabama either upon the premises of another or upon the public lands, highways, roads, or streets in the State of Alabama.

Terms Used In Alabama Code 3-5-2

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • writing: includes typewriting and printing on paper. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(b) Nothing in this section or elsewhere in this chapter shall be construed to make it unlawful for livestock or other animals to run at large on the premises of another when the owner or person in charge of the premises has consented in writing to [ allow livestock or other animals to run at large on the [ premises.
(c) There shall be no “open range” counties in this state. This section shall apply to all counties within the state.
(d) Any person or persons owning or having the possession, custody, or control of any livestock who unlawfully and knowingly permit the same to run or be at large, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction, shall be fined not less than double the damages sustained by the injured party or parties, but in no case more than [ fifty dollars ($50), one half of such fine to go to the injured party or parties, and may also be imprisoned in the county jail or sentenced to hard labor for the county for a term not exceeding six months at the discretion of the court trying the case.
(e) No municipal governing body may adopt or continue in effect any ordinance, rule, resolution, or other directive that is inconsistent with this section. For purposes of this subsection, an ordinance, rule, resolution, or directive shall be considered inconsistent with this section if it proscribes the same conduct prohibited by this section and provides no requisite mental state or a mental state different than what is provided in subsection (a) or (d).