(a) If the agency determines that the motor vehicle the driver was driving at the time of the motor vehicle incident was not in compliance, the agency shall issue the assessment of a civil penalty in the amount of two hundred dollars ($200) for the first offense, three hundred dollars ($300) for a second offense, and four hundred dollars ($400) for a third or subsequent offense against the driver for failure to comply with the Mandatory Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Law unless the motor vehicle is owned by any person, firm, association, or corporation licensed and engaged in the business of renting or leasing motor vehicles. The notice shall be sent by first class U.S. mail to the address in the records of the agency or otherwise available to the agency on a traffic citation or accident report. The notice shall state that the driver’s license of the person will be suspended for 90 days if the person, within 45 days of the notice, does not either pay the assessment in a manner acceptable to the agency or appeal the assessment by filing a notice of appeal with the agency. If the person fails to pay the civil penalty or file an appeal as provided herein, the person’s driver’s license shall be suspended for 90 days and the civil penalty shall be final. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the agency may grant a person an extension to pay the civil penalty not to exceed 60 days if the person files a written settlement of the assessment.
Terms Used In Alabama Code 41-27-42
Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
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
(b) An assessment under the provisions of this article may not be made more than six months after a motor vehicle incident.
