Ala. Code § 32-1-4
This is the official text of Ala. Code § 32-1-4, part of Alabama’s Code — part of the compiled statutory law of Alabama, published by the state as "Code." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Section 32-1-4 Appearance Upon Arrest for Misdemeanor
Official statutory text
(a) Whenever any person is arrested for a violation of any provision of this title punishable as a misdemeanor, the arresting officer shall, unless otherwise provided in this section, take the name and address of such person and the license number of his or her motor vehicle, and shall issue a summons or otherwise notify him or her in writing or by an electronic traffic ticket or e-ticket to appear at a time and place to be specified in such summons, notice, or e-ticket.
An electronic traffic ticket or e-ticket, for purposes of this chapter, is defined as a ticket that is generated and printed at the site of a traffic violation after a violation has been electronically transmitted to the court. An arresting officer transfers arrest and licensing information of a violator electronically to the court. The court electronically records the arrest and issues a complaint and summons or notice to appear, which is printed at the site of the offense, and given to the violator.
The person arrested, if he or she so desires, shall have a right to an immediate hearing or a hearing within 24 hours at a convenient hour before a magistrate within the county or city where such offense was committed, or if an e-ticket is written, the person shall have a right, if he or she desires, to an immediate hearing or a hearing within 24 hours at a convenient hour before any magistrate within this state. Except when an arresting officer cites a person with an e-ticket, the officer shall, upon the giving by such person of a sufficient written bond, approved by the arresting officer, to appear at such time and place, forthwith release the person from custody.
Except when an arresting officer cites a person with an e-ticket, a person refusing to give bond to appear shall be taken immediately by the arresting officer before the nearest or most accessible magistrate. When an e-ticket is used by an arresting officer, a person shall be deemed to have given his or her written bond to appear in court on the date as specified on the e-ticket.
Any person who willfully violates his or her written bond by failing to timely appear shall be guilty of a misdemeanor regardless of the disposition of the charge upon which he or she was originally arrested.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person arrested and charged with an offense causing or contributing to an accident resulting in injury or death to any person nor to any person charged with driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or of narcotic or other drugs nor to any person whom the arresting officer shall have good cause to believe has committed any felony, and the arresting officer shall take such person forthwith before the nearest or most accessible magistrate.
(c) Any officer violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of misconduct in office and shall be subject to removal from office.
An electronic traffic ticket or e-ticket, for purposes of this chapter, is defined as a ticket that is generated and printed at the site of a traffic violation after a violation has been electronically transmitted to the court. An arresting officer transfers arrest and licensing information of a violator electronically to the court. The court electronically records the arrest and issues a complaint and summons or notice to appear, which is printed at the site of the offense, and given to the violator.
The person arrested, if he or she so desires, shall have a right to an immediate hearing or a hearing within 24 hours at a convenient hour before a magistrate within the county or city where such offense was committed, or if an e-ticket is written, the person shall have a right, if he or she desires, to an immediate hearing or a hearing within 24 hours at a convenient hour before any magistrate within this state. Except when an arresting officer cites a person with an e-ticket, the officer shall, upon the giving by such person of a sufficient written bond, approved by the arresting officer, to appear at such time and place, forthwith release the person from custody.
Except when an arresting officer cites a person with an e-ticket, a person refusing to give bond to appear shall be taken immediately by the arresting officer before the nearest or most accessible magistrate. When an e-ticket is used by an arresting officer, a person shall be deemed to have given his or her written bond to appear in court on the date as specified on the e-ticket.
Any person who willfully violates his or her written bond by failing to timely appear shall be guilty of a misdemeanor regardless of the disposition of the charge upon which he or she was originally arrested.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person arrested and charged with an offense causing or contributing to an accident resulting in injury or death to any person nor to any person charged with driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or of narcotic or other drugs nor to any person whom the arresting officer shall have good cause to believe has committed any felony, and the arresting officer shall take such person forthwith before the nearest or most accessible magistrate.
(c) Any officer violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of misconduct in office and shall be subject to removal from office.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Alabama?
Find a Alabama lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.