Alabama § 45-58-201.02 - Voiding of License for Invalid Payment; Reimbursement for Monetary Loss; Due Care.

(a)(1) When a check, credit card, or other form of payment tendered by an individual, company, or other entity for payment of any motor vehicle license, vessel registration, privilege license, door-to-door sales license, rental lease, driver license, game and fish license, manufactured home registration, or any other license is found to be noncollectible, the Shelby County License Department shall make a reasonable attempt to retrieve the motor vehicle license plate or decal or to retrieve any other license issued based on the noncollectible payment and the Shelby County Manager may void the registration or license and any sales and use taxes, ad valorem taxes, issuance fees, interest, penalties, and costs related to the noncollectible payment.

(2) After the motor vehicle or other licenses have been voided, the license department shall receive credit for costs associated with the noncollectible check, credit card, or instrument issued.

(3) The appropriate state office shall mark the records pertaining to the voided license accordingly, and upon inquiry by any law enforcement agency, shall notify the agency that the party in question is operating under a voided license. All violations shall be prosecuted in accordance to law.

(b)(1) The Shelby County Commission shall reimburse the Shelby County License Department from the General Fund of Shelby County up to three thousand dollars ($3,000) per year, or up to such other amount as may be adjusted from time to time by the county commission, for the amount of any losses arising or caused by any errors, mistakes, or omissions of the Shelby County License Department, or agents of the department, if the county manager, or his or her agents, finds the losses were caused without personal knowledge, including losses arising from acceptance of worthless or forged checks, drafts, money orders, credit cards, or other written or online orders for money or its equivalent.

(2) The Shelby County License Department and the Shelby County Manager shall ensure that the license department employees exercise due care in performing their duties and make a diligent effort to correct any error, mistake, or omission and collect the amount subject to potential loss immediately upon becoming aware of the potential loss. This section shall not apply to any deliberate misuse or misappropriation of funds by the license department or employees of the office.

(c) This section is supplemental and shall be construed in pari materia with other laws regarding the Shelby County License Department.