What an Alabama speeding ticket is
An Alabama speeding ticket written by an officer is a Uniform Traffic Ticket and Complaint or an approved electronic version of it. Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration, Rule 19(A)(1) (judicial.alabama.gov, retrieved 9 Oct 2026): “The complaint and summons used in all nonfelony traffic cases filed in all courts of the State shall be the "Uniform Traffic Ticket and Complaint" ("the ticket") or an approved electronic version of the ticket containing substantially the same information as that found on the ticket.” The section number printed on the ticket shows which rule is charged, for example a maximum limit under Code of Alabama § 32-5A-171. Confirm what your notice says.
US overview: What a speeding ticket notice is. Contrast: What an NYC speeding ticket is · What a California speeding ticket is · What a Florida speeding ticket is · What a Pennsylvania speeding ticket is · What a Virginia speeding ticket is · What a Colorado speeding ticket is · What a Maryland speeding ticket is · What a Tennessee speeding ticket is · What a Washington speeding ticket is · What a New Mexico speeding ticket is · What an Arizona speeding ticket is · What an Illinois speeding ticket is · What an Iowa speeding ticket is.
The Code of Alabama text below is quoted from the Alabama Legislature’s ALISON site, which prints no effective date on a section page. It is quoted as shown when retrieved on 9 Oct 2026.
Misdemeanor classification (Code of Alabama § 32-5A-8)
Code of Alabama § 32-5A-8(a): “It is a misdemeanor for any person to violate any of the provisions of this chapter or of Title 32, unless such violation is by this chapter or other law of this state declared to be a felony.” That is the statute’s statement. This page does not state which penalty provision applies to your ticket.
Speed limits (Code of Alabama §§ 32-5A-170 to 32-5A-173)
§ 32-5A-170: “No person shall drive a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing.” § 32-5A-171 begins: “Except when a special hazard exists that requires lower speed for compliance with Section 32-5A-170, the limits hereinafter specified or established as hereinafter authorized shall be maximum lawful speeds, and no person shall drive a vehicle at a speed in excess of the maximum limits.” Among its other subdivisions, it lists:
- (1) “No person shall operate a vehicle in excess of 30 miles per hour in any urban district.”
- (2)a. “No person shall operate a motor vehicle in excess of 35 miles per hour on any unpaved road.”
- (2)b. “No person shall operate a motor vehicle on any county-maintained paved road in an unincorporated area of the state at a speed in excess of 45 miles per hour unless a different maximum speed is established under authority granted in subdivision (6) or as provided in subdivision (7) subject to the maximum rate of speed provided in subdivision (3).”
- (3) “No person shall operate a motor vehicle on the highways in this state, other than interstate highways or highways having four or more traffic lanes, at a speed in excess of 55 miles per hour at any time unless a different maximum rate of speed is authorized by the Governor under authority granted in subdivision (6) or as provided in subdivision (7).”
- (4) “No person shall operate a motor vehicle, on an interstate highway within the State of Alabama, at a speed in excess of 70 miles per hour or on any other highway having four or more traffic lanes at a speed in excess of 65 miles per hour, unless a different maximum rate of speed is authorized by the Governor under authority granted in subdivision (6) or as provided in subdivision (7).”
- (7) “The maximum speed limits set forth in this section may be altered as authorized in Sections 32-5A-172 and 32-5A-173.”
§ 32-5A-172 provides for state speed zones, with a declared limit “which shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected”. That is the statute’s statement. Read the speed and the limit printed on your ticket.
What the complaint must state (Code of Alabama § 32-5A-177)
§ 32-5A-177(a): “In every charge of violation of any speed regulation in this article the complaint, also the summons or notice to appear, shall specify the speed at which the defendant is alleged to have driven, also the maximum speed applicable within the district or at the location.” That is the statute’s statement.
School zones (Code of Alabama §§ 32-5A-180 to 32-5A-186)
§ 32-5A-180: “This article shall be known as the County and Municipal Reduced Speed School Zone Act.” § 32-5A-181(3) defines a school zone as “All public or private school property, including school grounds and any road or highway abutting the school grounds and extending 300 feet along the road or highway from the school grounds.” § 32-5A-185: “Upon conviction of a school zone speed violation, the operator of the motor vehicle shall be assessed a fine of double the amount prescribed by law outside a school zone.” That is the statute’s statement. The Rule 20 schedule below prints no school-zone row. The magistrate amount for a school-zone speed violation is UNKNOWN on this page. Confirm what your notice says.
Construction zones (Code of Alabama § 32-5A-176.1)
§ 32-5A-176.1(a): “A person commits a construction zone moving violation if, while operating a motor vehicle, he or she commits any violation of Chapter 5 or this chapter under all of the following conditions:” (1) “The person is in a construction zone designated by the Department of Transportation or a political subdivision of the state.” (2) “Construction or maintenance workers are present and performing construction or maintenance work.” (3) “There are work zone traffic control devices, traffic controls, or warning signs present to notify motorists and pedestrians of construction or maintenance workers in the area.”
§ 32-5A-176.1(c): “Upon conviction of a construction zone moving violation, the operator of the motor vehicle shall be assessed a fine of the greater of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) or double the amount prescribed by law outside a construction zone.” That is the statute’s statement.
The magistrate fine schedule (Ala. R. Jud. Admin. Rule 20)
Rule 20 is titled “Magistrates’ fine schedule and procedure if defendant elects to plead guilty in district court or municipal court.” Its history ends “Amended 6-18-2024.” It is quoted as posted on judicial.alabama.gov when retrieved on 9 Oct 2026. Rule 20(A): “If a defendant in a district-court or municipal-court case elects to plead guilty before a magistrate to one of the traffic offenses listed in the schedule below, the fine established in this schedule shall apply:” The schedule prints these speed rows:
| Row in the Rule 20(A) schedule | Fine printed |
|---|---|
| “Speeding:” “Less than 25 MPH over posted speed limit” | $20 |
| “Speeding:” “25 MPH or more over posted speed limit” | $40 |
| “Speed - exceeding reasonable and prudent” | $20 |
| “CONSTRUCTION ZONE OFFENSES” “Speeding:” “Less than 25 MPH over posted speed limit” | $250 |
| “CONSTRUCTION ZONE OFFENSES” “Speeding:” “25 MPH or more over posted speed limit” | $250 |
That is the court rule’s statement. The amounts in the table are the Rule 20(A) fines where a defendant elects to plead guilty before a magistrate. This page does not state the fine in any other situation. Rule 20(B) and (C) let a district court or a municipality adopt, in whole or in part, “the Supreme Court's extended schedule of fines appearing as Appendix B to this rule” for offenses “not included in the schedule set out in section (A)”. This page did not retrieve Appendix B or any local schedule. Rule 19(C)(1)(a) describes a defendant who appears before a magistrate and signs the plea section, and who must then “pay the fine and costs”. Court costs: UNKNOWN. This page does not state the court costs or other charges on an Alabama ticket, does not apply them to any amount, and does not compute a total. Confirm what your notice says.
Points on the driving record (Ala. Admin. Code r. 760-X-1-.07)
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency rule 760-X-1-.07 (admincode.legislature.state.al.us, retrieved 9 Oct 2026; rule history “effective August 14, 2021”) states that “the following classifications of point values shall be assessed for the following enumerated offenses against each driver, occurring within or without the State of Alabama:”
| Item in r. 760-X-1-.07 | Points printed |
|---|---|
| (k) “Speeding violation to include 1-25 mph over speed limit” | 2 points |
| (l) “Speeding 26 or more over speed limit” | 5 points |
r. 760-X-1-.07(5): “Reports of traffic convictions shall retain their point value for suspension purposes for a period of two years from the date of conviction.” That is the rule’s statement. We do not tell you how a ticket will affect your license or insurance. Confirm your driving record with ALEA.
At exactly 25 mph over the limit: two texts side by side
| Text | Band printed that includes exactly 25 mph over | Value printed |
|---|---|---|
| Rule 20(A) magistrate fine schedule | “25 MPH or more over posted speed limit” | $40 |
| r. 760-X-1-.07, item (k) | “Speeding violation to include 1-25 mph over speed limit” | 2 points |
Rule 20(A) is a magistrate fine schedule and r. 760-X-1-.07 is a points rule. Each text prints its own band. This page does not state how either text applies to your ticket. Confirm what your notice says.
Paths the ticket describes (not which to choose)
Read the court name, the court date, and the response instructions printed on your ticket. We do not tell you whether to pay, request a hearing, or take any other step.
Violation.com does not collect Alabama fines or court costs. If you upload a speeding notice, we summarize what the notice shows. It is not legal advice.
Sources retrieved 9 Oct 2026:
- https://judicial.alabama.gov/docs/library/rules/ja19.pdf
- https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=32-5A-8
- https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=32-5A-170
- https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=32-5A-171
- https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=32-5A-172
- https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=32-5A-177
- https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=32-5A-180
- https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=32-5A-181
- https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=32-5A-185
- https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=32-5A-176.1
- https://judicial.alabama.gov/docs/library/rules/ja20.pdf
- https://file.admincode.legislature.state.al.us/docs/alea/760-X-1.pdf
Not legal advice. Not a law firm. Not affiliated with a government agency. Information Only.
Information on this page was last checked against official sources on October 17, 2026.