§32-6-1. Required; expiration date; renewal; identification cards for nondrivers.

(a) Every person, except those specifically exempted by statutory enactment, shall procure a driver's license before driving a motor vehicle upon the highways of this state. Every new resident of the State of Alabama shall procure an Alabama driver's license within 30 days after establishing residence in this state.

(b) Each original driver's license issued to a person born in a year ending in an odd number shall expire on the second anniversary of the licensee's birth date occurring in an odd-numbered calendar year after the date on which the application for the license was filed, and each original driver's license issued to a person born in a year ending with an even number shall expire on the second anniversary of the licensee's birth date occurring in an even-numbered calendar year after the date on which the application for the license was filed; provided, that if the license issued would expire in less than 24 months from the date on which the application for the license was filed, the expiration date of such license is hereby extended for an additional period of two years. After the expiration of an original driver's license, all subsequent renewals shall be for a period of four years from the specified expiration date of the immediately preceding license, regardless of when the renewal shall be issued. Every driver's license issued under this article may be renewed at the end of the license period without examination upon application and payment of the fee. For the purpose of renewal of a driver's license, the Department of Public Safety shall mail renewal notices to each licensee 30 days after expiration date if the driver's license has not been renewed. A grace period of 60 days after expiration date of a driver's license shall exist for the purpose of driver's license renewal and the driver's license shall be valid for this time period. The applicant shall apply for a driver's license anytime during a period beginning 30 days before the expiration date of the then current license until three years after the expiration date of the license. Failure to make application for renewal within the specified time shall result in the applicant being required to take, and successfully pass, a written examination and driving test as administered by the Department of Public Safety. If any person's birthday is February 29, the first day of March following shall be regarded as his or her birthday for the purposes of this section.

(c) The Department of Public Safety shall make available to any resident of this state who does not hold a valid Alabama driver's license a nondriver identification card to be used for identification purposes only. The nondriver identification card shall be issued only upon application of the nondriver and shall be similar to the driver's license; except, that it shall bear the word "nondriver" in prominent letters on the face of the identification card. Each nondriver identification card shall bear thereon a distinguishing number assigned to the nondriver and a color photograph of the nondriver, as well as the name, birth date, residence address, and a brief description of the nondriver who, for the purpose of identification, shall immediately upon receipt thereof, endorse his or her usual signature in ink upon the card in the space provided thereon, unless a facsimile of the nondriver signature appears thereon. The same degree of proof of identification required of applicants for driver's licenses in this state shall be required of applicants for nondriver identification cards.

(Acts 1975, No. 539, p. 1192, §§2, 6; Acts 1981, No. 81-154, p. 177; Acts 1992, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 92-678, p. 59, §1; Acts 1997, No. 97-554, p. 985, §1.)