Other License Info

Boating License

With more than one million acres of beautiful lakes and 1,600 miles of winding rivers, Alabama offers unlimited opportunities for boating. In 1997, the state instituted the Boating Safety Act that requires all boat operators to carry a vessel license. This law is one of the toughest in the nation and provides sanctions for drunken drivers and other offenses. When you go to your local driver's license office to apply for your vessel license, you will be given a written test. You can study for this test by studying the Boater's Handbook beforehand. Written tests are not required for those who were 40 or older on April 28, 1994, those who have successfully completed boating courses given by the U.S. Coast Guard or Power Squadron, and residents who have taken the "Boating Basics" course from the Alabama Marine Police. However, you must still have a "V" class added to your license to operate a boat. Documents needed to apply for a vessel license are the same as for your driver's license:

• Certified U.S. birth certificate.

• Social Security card.

• One other form of identification. This can include your valid driver's license, your marriage license, military ID, or a Veterans Administration card.

• $5 testing fee and $23 license fee. Checks are not accepted.

Seat Belt Law

Alabama is one of 21 states with an enforced seat belt law. You are required to wear your seat belt at all times when the vehicle is in motion, regardless of trip distance. If you don't buckle up, law enforcement officers can ticket you. African Americans and Latinos in Alabama are at great risk to be involved in a car crash. Studies show that minorities are less likely to wear seat belts. The state is expanding efforts to educate the minority population on the dangers of driving without seat belts. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for African Americans from birth to age 14, the second leading cause of death for 15 to 24 year olds, and the third leading cause of death among Latinos.

Car Seats

Anyone transporting a child under the age of six must use a federally-approved child seat for protection. When purchasing a child or booster seat, look for the FMVSS-213 label to ensure you are using an approved seat. Infants and children under one year of age who weigh 22 pounds or less must ride in an infant-only, rear-facing convertible seat. The seat must have harness straps at or below the shoulder level. Toddlers weighing 20-40 pounds should ride facing forward, with harness straps at or above the shoulders. Children over 40 pounds can be placed in a forward-facing booster seat, utilizing both the shoulder and lap belts of the vehicle's seat belt. The shoulder strap should be snug across the chest and the lap belt should ride low and tight against lap/upper thigh area. Children 12 and under must ride in the back seat, buckled in with the car's seat belt. Use of the proper child safety seats has reduced fatal injuries for infants by 71%. Toddler injuries have been reduced by 54%!