[Ord. No. 526, 10-16-1972; Ord. No. 2040-26, 6-2-2026]
In addition to all other provisions of law relating to the speed and operation of motor vehicles in the City, there is hereby adopted by the City all laws of the state and all rules and regulations of the Alabama Department of Transportation pertaining to the control of traffic and motor vehicles on highways that are misdemeanors under the state laws, and a violation of such laws, rules and regulations in the City or in the police jurisdiction thereof shall be a violation of this Code.
[Ord. No. 436, 9-14-1970; Ord. No. 456, 3-1-1971]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them:
CITY
The corporate limits of the City and the police jurisdiction thereof contiguous to said corporate limits, unless otherwise specified.
SIGN
Any device upon which words or figures are displayed, placed on or near the right-of-way of the public by any lawful authority, including the state, county or City, and so designed as to give instructions to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians using such roadway.
TRAFFIC LIGHT
A signal light operated by electricity and suspended or erected at any intersection of streets or roads.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 26-3, Occupying motor vehicle while intoxicated, adopted 1-19-1976 by Ord. No. 702, was repealed 6-2-2026 by Ord. No. 2040-26.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 26-3.1, Test for determining alcoholic content of blood of persons arrested for driving while under influence of intoxicants, adopted 2-3-1975 by Ord. No. 644 and amended 8-7-1989 by Ord. No. 1580, was repealed 6-2-2026 by Ord. No. 2040-26.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 26-3.2, Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol while on property of a quasi-public or private nature, adopted 6-21-1976 by Ord. No. 722, was repealed 6-2-2026 by Ord. No. 2040-26.
[Ord. No. 352, 7-16-1963; Ord. No. 2040-26, 6-2-2026]
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to cause, permit, or suffer a railroad train, boxcar, or engine to block any public railroad crossing within the City for a longer period than five minutes.
(b) 
During said period of five minutes within which it shall be lawful for the railroad crossing to be blocked, the person in charge of any train, boxcar, or engine which shall be blocking the same shall, upon the approach to the crossing of any police car, ambulance, fire engine or highway patrol car, or sheriff's vehicle, which shall be giving a signal either by a blinking blue or red light, as the case may be, or the sounding of a siren, immediately clear the same for the crossing of such approaching emergency vehicle.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 26-5, U-turns, adopted 7-15-1929 by Ord. No. 124 and amended 6-6-1977 by Ord. No. 767, was repealed 6-2-2026 by Ord. No. 2040-26.
[Ord. No. 59, 4-11-1923]
It shall be unlawful for any person to drive a vehicle of any description upon, over or against the concrete curb, gutter or sidewalk along or upon any street, except at a regular crossing. This section does not mean that it shall be unlawful for vehicles with rubber tires to stand parked against such curbs, gutters or sidewalks.
[Ord. No. 722, 6-21-1976; Ord. No. 2040-26, 6-2-2026]
(a) 
All traffic provisions of the ordinances of the City now in effect or hereafter enacted, in addition to being enforceable within the City and upon the public streets and highways thereof, shall be enforceable in and on all quasi-public or private parking lots, streets and highways in the City.
(b) 
Such parking lots, streets and highways shall include, but not be limited to, parking areas and lots adjacent to, surrounding or servicing public restaurants, shopping centers, drive-in movies, athletic stadiums, auditoriums and all other parking areas and lots of whatsoever kind which are quasi-public or private in nature such that they are constructed or installed for use by the public.
(c) 
Nothing herein contained, however, shall be construed to compel the City, its Police Department or any of its other departments to maintain such quasi-public or private parking areas and lots, or to install or maintain any traffic or parking control devices therein or thereon.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 26-9, Traffic regulation in downtown mall, adopted 8-2-1976 by Ord. No. 729, was repealed 6-2-2026 by Ord. No. 2040-26.
[Ord. No. 1749, 3-1-1993]
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or drive any vehicle upon the streets or highways of the City, or within the police jurisdiction thereof, at any intersection where gasoline filling stations or other business property is located, so as to cause such vehicle to cut the corners of any such intersection by passing over the space used in the operation of such filling station or other business property, and thereby avoid the traffic light or traffic signal at any such intersection, or so as to avoid stopping at any such intersection as is required by the laws of the City, or so as to avoid traveling at any such intersection over the usual lanes of traffic.
[Ord. No. 363-99, 5-17-1999; Ord. No. 2040-26, 6-2-2026]
The City does hereby adopt the State of Alabama Department of Public Safety Towing and Recovery Policy 2025 to cover any wrecker service which desires to be placed on the list of contract towing services utilized by the City. The Towing and Recovery Policy 2025 is attached to this section and made a part hereof as if fully set out herein.
[Ord. No. 723-05, 2-6-2012; Ord. No. 2040-26, 6-2-2026]
(a) 
Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, and except as otherwise provided in this section, a motor vehicle is subject to impounding as a nuisance if it is driven on a highway or other public roadway in the City if the motor vehicle is driven by a person whose license or license privilege is suspended, revoked or cancelled, or a person who is improperly licensed, including driving with a learner's permit without a licensed driver, or who has no insurance, at the time he or she was stopped or involved in an accident.
(b) 
If a driver is unable to produce a valid driver license on the demand of a law enforcement officer, the vehicle shall be impounded regardless of ownership, unless the officer is reasonably able, by other means, to verify that the driver is properly licensed. Prior to impounding the vehicle the law enforcement officer shall make a reasonable attempt to verify the license status of a driver who claims to be properly licensed but who is unable to produce the license on demand of the officer. A notation of the officer's attempt to verify that the driver is properly licensed shall be noted on the impound report. The driver and occupants of the vehicle will be transported to a place of safety by the impounding officer and an impound report made with a full inventory of items in the vehicle.
(c) 
A law enforcement officer shall not impound a vehicle pursuant to this section if the license of the driver expired within the preceding 90 days and the driver would otherwise have been properly licensed.
(d) 
If the owner of the vehicle or another family member of the owner is present in the vehicle and has a valid license, the vehicle shall not be impounded and towed.
(e) 
If there is a medical necessity jeopardizing life or limb, the law enforcement officer may elect not to impound the vehicle.
(f) 
A vehicle impounded pursuant to this section shall be released if the registered owner or a representative with written notarized authorization from the registered owner appears at the Albertville Police Department and presents a valid driver license, a copy of the title, tag receipt, or notarized bill of sale.
(1) 
If the registered owner does not have a valid driver license he or she may bring someone with them who has a valid license and the vehicle may be released without written notarized permission.
(2) 
Any owner of a vehicle who suffers any loss due to the impoundment of any vehicle pursuant to this section may recover the amount of the loss from the unlicensed, suspended, or revoked driver.
(3) 
The person redeeming the vehicle at the wrecker lot will be responsible for paying the set towing and storage fee.
(4) 
Any vehicle impounded that is not redeemed pursuant to this section within 60 days may be sold by the wrecker company for fees owed according to state law.
[Ord. No. 1103-10, 12-6-2010; Ord. No. 1546-17, 10-2-2017]
(a) 
Streets on which trucks prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a truck weighing over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight on the following street within the City:
(1) 
Martling Road from Highway 431 to Highway 75 north.
(2) 
Floyd Drive from Highway 431 to City limits.
(3) 
Turnpike Road 75 south to Walnut Street.
(4) 
Legion Road from Highway 205 to City limits.
(5) 
Pine Street from Baltimore Avenue to First Street (First Street to Industrial Boulevard off Baltimore Avenue).
(6) 
East Main Street from Baltimore Avenue to Highway 431.
(7) 
The portion of Martling Road from Martling/Highway 75 to the City limits.
(b) 
Exceptions.
(1) 
This section shall not apply to the operation of trucks weighing in excess of 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight where necessary to the conduct of business, such as local delivery at a destination point, provided streets upon which traffic is permitted are used until reaching the intersection nearest the destination point.
(2) 
This section shall not apply to any truck operated by the City in the carrying out of any government or proprietary function.
(c) 
Sign placement: The City shall place on all streets upon which truck traffic is prohibited a sign to give notice of this prohibition.