How Alabama DUI courts are organised
A DUI charge in Alabama is prosecuted in the District Court that serves the county or municipality where the stop happened, not where you live. The clerk's office in that courthouse controls your hearing dates, accepts motions and continuances, and takes payment of fines and court costs. Calendars, filing hours and remote-appearance rules differ from courthouse to courthouse, so confirm them with the clerk before your first date.
Alabama's district courts have original jurisdiction over misdemeanor DUI prosecutions under Ala. Code § 12-12-32, while municipal courts hear DUI charged as a city ordinance violation. Felony DUI — a fourth or subsequent offense — is tried in circuit court. Appeals from district or municipal court are heard de novo in circuit court, and from there in the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals.
The state judiciary publishes the authoritative directory of courthouses, judges and calendars at judicial.alabama.gov. Use it to confirm the address and division for your case number; local listings age quickly.
Courthouse locations, hearing calendars, clerk contacts and self-help forms.
The separate licence action, which the criminal court does not decide.
What happens at each stage in Alabama
A DUI case in Alabama is heard in the District Court, and it runs on two tracks at once: the criminal case and a separate licence action you must challenge within 10 days of arrest.
- 1Arrest, booking and the chemical test — Officers arrest for DUI under Ala. Code § 32-5A-191 and request a breath, blood or urine test under Alabama's implied-consent section, Ala. Code § 32-5-192. Refusing carries its own licence penalty, separate from the criminal charge.
- 2Licence action — request a hearing within 10 days — A DUI arrest and conviction triggers suspension or revocation processed by ALEA's Driver License Division under Ala. Code §§ 32-5A-304 to 32-5A-312. You have 10 days from arrest to demand the administrative hearing with Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Driver License Division; miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically, whatever happens in court.
- 3Arraignment in the District Court — The charge is read, a plea is entered and conditions of release are set in the District Court. Alabama's district courts have original jurisdiction over misdemeanor DUI prosecutions under Ala.
- 4Pretrial motions and discovery — Defence counsel obtains the police report, test records and calibration or maintenance logs, and may move to suppress the stop or the test result. Alabama's statewide electronic filing system is AlaFile, used by circuit and district clerks for case documents.
- 5Diversion or treatment disposition — Alabama restricts pretrial diversion for DUI; first offenders are generally not eligible for a disposition that avoids a conviction under Ala. Code § 32-5A-191.
- 6Plea or trial, then sentencing — A first DUI conviction carries a fine of $600–$2,100, jail exposure up to 1 year, a licence suspension of 3 months, an ignition interlock requirement. Prior offenses within 5 years push the case into the enhanced-penalty range. A first offense is a misdemeanor, and ignition interlock is required in most cases.
- 7Appeal — Municipal courts in Alabama are not courts of record, so an appeal to circuit court is a fresh trial rather than a review of the record.
- 8Reinstatement — Reinstatement requires ALEA's Request for Reinstatement Requirements (Form DI-46A). Alabama requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before the licence is restored.
Filing and case handling in Alabama
- Alabama's statewide electronic filing system is AlaFile, used by circuit and district clerks for case documents.
- Municipal courts in Alabama are not courts of record, so an appeal to circuit court is a fresh trial rather than a review of the record.
- An appeal from a municipal or district court DUI judgment to circuit court must generally be filed within 14 days under Ala. Code § 12-14-70.
- Alabama restricts pretrial diversion for DUI; first offenders are generally not eligible for a disposition that avoids a conviction under Ala. Code § 32-5A-191.
Whatever the local practice, take your citation or case number to every call — clerks index by case, not by name — and get the payable amount for fines and court costs in writing before you pay.
Alabama ZIP codes covered
These Alabama ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
- 35031 — Blountsville
- 35046 — Zcta 35046
- 35049 — Cleveland
- 35071 — Gardendale
- 35080 — Helena
- 35540 — Addison
- 35587 — Townley
- 35774 — Trenton
- 35805 — Huntsville
- 35978 — Henagar
- 35979 — Higdon
- 35989 — Valley head
- 36033 — Georgiana
- 36071 — Rutledge
- 36318 — Coffee springs
- 36525 — Creola
- 36576 — Silverhill
- 36761 — Boys ranch
- 36912 — Lisman
Counties and cities using these Alabama resources
Counties
Other Alabama official resources
Frequently asked questions
- Which court handles a first DUI charge in Alabama?
- First-offense DUI cases in Alabama are heard in the District Court for the county where the stop happened. The court clerk's office there sets the arraignment date and accepts filings.
- Does the court case decide whether I keep my licence in Alabama?
- No. The criminal case and the administrative licence action run separately. The licence action is handled by the AL driver-licensing agency, and the request for a hearing is due within 10 days of arrest.