Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday signed into law a bill requiring CDL drivers operating in Alabama to possess valid U.S. work authorization and to demonstrate English language proficiency, while also making it a criminal offense to present a false foreign CDL during enforcement encounters.
Alabama state Sen. Lance Bell, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure strengthens safeguards for Alabama motorists while supporting legitimate commercial drivers who follow the rules.
“By giving law enforcement additional tools to address fraudulent licenses, enforce existing federal standards and hold bad actors accountable, this legislation helps keep our highways safe while supporting the hardworking Alabama truckers who follow the rules every day,” he said.
The new law establishes offenses in Alabama for operating a CMV without proper documentation if an individual knowingly holds a valid CDL issued by a foreign government and does not have the additional entry documents required under Title 8 Code of Federal Regulations Part 214.2(b)(4) in his or her possession while operating the commercial vehicle.
That federal regulation sets requirements for the admission of citizens of Mexico and Canada pursuant to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
A violation of that provision of the new Alabama law is classified as a Class D felony and carries a $1,000 fine for the driver, a $2,000 fine for the motor carrier that owns the vehicle, and/or impounding of the vehicle.
The charge can be downgraded to a misdemeanor if the individual provides evidence that at the time the offense was committed, the individual had been issued the additional entry documents and just did not possess them.
It also makes it a felony offense if a driver presents a fraudulent foreign CDL as if it's a valid one. As a Class D felony, this violation would carry the same fines as the above violation.
[Related: Wyoming stiffens ELP-violation penalties with $1K fine, jail for repeat offenders]
Fines for ELP violations
If a CDL holder is unable to demonstrate proficiency in English under the new law in the Yellowhammer State, the driver would be subject to a $1,000 fine, the motor carrier a $2,000 fine, and the vehicle would be impounded “if it is determined that the operator or the commercial motor vehicle poses a threat to public safety,” the law states. Fines would be doubled for a subsequent violation.
If a truck is impounded as a result of an ELP violation, an approved towing service is required to tow the vehicle to its garage, storage lot or other safe location and maintain custody of the vehicle “until the registered owner or authorized agent of the registered owner claims the commercial motor vehicle by paying all reasonable and customary towing and storage fees for the services of the towing company,” the law states.
“Alabama’s economy is booming, and our hardworking truckers play a vital role in keeping goods moving across our state and across this country,” Ivey said. “At the same time, Alabama families travel these same highways every single day, and they deserve to know the rules are being enforced. If you cannot read, write and speak English, you do not need to be driving a commercial vehicle on our roads.”
According to Overdrive sister company RigDig’s 2025 violations numbers, Alabama was pretty middle-of-the-road in issuing ELP violations last year.
According to a press release from Ivey’s office, since Oct. 27, 2025, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Motor Carrier Safety Unit has referred more than 555 individuals to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for immigration status verification following commercial motor vehicle inspections and passenger vehicle stops. Of those referrals, 221 individuals were detained by ICE based on their immigration status.
Alabama’s new law takes effect Oct. 1, 2026.
[Related: State lawmakers aim to bolster ELP, increase non-domiciled CDL scrutiny with penalties]
