SB 242

This act amends Section 32-6-49.18, Code of Alabama 1975, to authorize individuals who possess a Canadian or Mexican commercial driver license or learner permit and a United States work authorization to operate commercial motor vehicles. This act also adds the Highway Safety and Fairness Act as Division 3 of Article 1A, Chapter 6, Title 32, Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) require commercial motor vehicle operators to be proficient in the English language, a violation of which is punishable by a fine of $1,000 for operators and $2,000 for carriers for first violations and $2,000 for operators, $4,000 for carriers, and impoundment of vehicles for subsequent violations; (2) establish the offense of presenting a false foreign commercial driver license when representing a knowingly false public document as a valid commercial driver license, a violation of which is a Class D felony; (3) establish the offense of operating a commercial motor vehicle without proper documentation when in possession of a foreign government commercial driver license without immediate possession of a United States work authorization, a violation of which is punishable by a fine of $1,000 for the driver, $2,000 for the carrier, and the impoundment of the vehicle and a Class D felony or Class A felony if a preponderance of the evidence indicates the driver possessed the authorization; and (4) provide impoundment procedures relating to violations of this act, including for abandoned and unclaimed vehicles and retrieval of freight on impounded vehicles.