WHAT THE WORDS MEAN

Also called abandoned unit

A tenant leaving the unit, which lets the landlord enter and relet it; a unit counts as abandoned once its electric service has been off for seven consecutive days.

Also called sleeping in the car drunk, in control of a vehicle

The DUI law covers a person who drives a vehicle and also one who is in actual physical control of it while over the limit or under the influence.

Also called ADLS, license suspension after a DUI arrest

A suspension the state imposes, on the officer's report, for a test above the legal limit or for refusing the test.

Also called legal adult, age 19

The age of 19, when a person in Alabama is relieved of the disabilities of minority and has the same legal rights as a person over 21.

Also called average weekly wage, AWW

The figure workers' compensation pays from: 66 2/3 percent of the average weekly earnings at the time of the injury, within the weekly maximum and minimum.

Also called bond, getting out of jail

Release from custody on a judge's order, which a defendant is entitled to as a matter of right before conviction outside the charges listed for a detention hearing.

Also called waving a gun

Waving, flourishing, displaying or holding an item in a way that is or would look threatening to a reasonable person, or in a wanton or reckless manner.

Also called pistol permit, lifetime carry permit

A permit from the sheriff of the county of residence, for one year, five years or life, to carry a pistol in a vehicle or concealed on the person.

Also called pattern of conduct

A pattern of conduct made up of a series of acts over a period of time that shows a continuity of purpose, as stalking requires.

Also called intimate partner

A current or former relationship of a romantic or intimate nature, with the expectation of affectionate or sexual involvement by either party, which can make a crime domestic violence.

Also called deadly force, lethal force

Physical force which, as it is used, attempted or threatened, is readily capable of causing death or serious physical injury.

Also called hands free law, texting and driving

Being seen crossing in and out of a lane without a signal, swerving, or otherwise driving impaired while holding a phone, texting, watching or recording video, or reaching for a device.

Also called paraphernalia, pipe

Any equipment, product or material used, intended or designed to grow, make, prepare, test, package, store, hide or take a controlled substance unlawfully.

Also called driving under the influence, drunk driving, DWI

Driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle with 0.08 percent or more alcohol in the blood, or under the influence of alcohol or a substance to a degree that makes safe driving impossible.

Also called home, residence

A building used or normally used by a person for sleeping, living or lodging, which raises trespass and burglary.

Also called electronic traffic ticket, uniform traffic ticket

A traffic ticket generated and printed at the scene after the violation is sent electronically to the court, which serves as the summons or notice to appear.

Also called one party consent, secret recording

To overhear, record, amplify or transmit any part of the private communication of others without the consent of at least one of the people in it.

Also called spouse's share

What a surviving spouse may take instead of what the will leaves: the lesser of one-third of the estate, or all of it reduced by the spouse's own separate estate.

Also called trespass, told to leave

Being in or on premises without license, invitation or privilege; someone in a place open to the public is there lawfully unless they defy a lawful order to leave given to them personally.

Also called proof of insurance, insurance card

An insurance card, a declarations page, a binder or certificate, or a rental agreement naming the coverage, carried in the vehicle and shown on demand.

Also called emergency protection order, temporary protection order

A protection order a court issues at once, without notice or a hearing, when a petition shows abuse has occurred.

Also called clearing a record, sealing a record

A court order to remove the records of a charge, after which the proceedings are treated as never having occurred and agencies answer that no record exists.

Also called felony charge

An offense for which a sentence of imprisonment of more than one year is authorized. Felonies are Class A, B, C or D.

Also called wage garnishment, writ of garnishment

A levy on wages for a debt or judgment, which cannot reach 75 percent of a resident worker's wages.

Also called three strikes, HFOA

A person with prior Class A, B or C felony convictions who commits another, whose new felony is punished at a higher level for each prior.

Also called health care agent, medical power of attorney

A competent adult named in a living will to decide on life-sustaining treatment and artificial nutrition and hydration, who accepts the appointment in writing.

Also called door to door sale, cooling off

A sale solicited at the buyer's home, which the buyer may cancel until midnight of the third business day after signing.

Also called homestead

The protection of a resident's home, up to 160 acres, from debt collection, up to $15,000 in value, or $56,400 at 62 or older or with a disability.

Also called blow and go, breathalyzer in car

A device that keeps a vehicle from starting until the driver gives a breath sample, set so the vehicle will not start at a blood alcohol level of 0.02.

Also called self defense immunity, pretrial hearing on self defense

A hearing before trial where a defendant who proves justified force by a preponderance of the evidence is found immune from prosecution and the charges are dismissed.

Also called breath test, chemical test, refusal

Anyone who drives on Alabama's public highways is treated as having consented to a chemical test of blood, breath or oral fluid if lawfully arrested for an offense arising from driving under the influence.

Also called third party owner

An owner or lienholder of seized property who did not know of or consent to the conduct, whose interest is not forfeited unless the state proves knowledge or consent.

Also called without a will

Dying without a will, when the estate passes by statute, with the surviving spouse's share set by the children and parents left behind.

Also called no fault divorce, incompatibility

A ground for divorce for either spouse, when the court finds the marriage has broken down and further attempts at reconciliation are impractical or futile.

Also called shared custody, joint physical custody

Joint legal custody, shared major decisions, and joint physical custody, time shared so the child has frequent and substantial contact with each parent.

Also called lemon law period

The period ending one year after the original delivery of a new motor vehicle or after the first 12,000 miles, whichever comes first, in which a defect is reported.

Also called threatening

Intentionally placing, or trying to place, someone in fear of imminent serious physical injury by physical action. It is a Class B misdemeanor.

Also called fired for cause

Conduct at work that disqualifies a fired employee from unemployment benefits, such as a dishonest or criminal act, sabotage, endangering others, or misconduct repeated after a warning.

Also called disqualifying felony

The quality that makes a felony take away the vote, which only the offenses the Felony Voter Disqualification Act lists have.

Also called John Hubbard Move Over Act

The rule that a driver leaves the lane next to a stopped police or emergency vehicle, wrecker, utility, road crew or garbage truck with its lights on, or slows to at least 15 miles per hour under the limit.

Also called nolle prosequi, nol prossed

A charge the prosecution dropped; one dropped without conditions and not refiled can be expunged after more than 90 days.

Also called open bottle, open alcohol

A container of alcohol that is not in the manufacturer's sealed condition, which may not be in the passenger area of a vehicle on a public highway.

Also called intimate image, revenge porn

A sexually explicit recording of an identifiable person, including one edited, manipulated or partly artificial that a reasonable person would believe shows them.

Also called PC

The ground an officer needs to arrest for a felony without a warrant, and the ground a search warrant issues on, supported by an affidavit.

Also called person forbidden to possess a firearm

Someone convicted of a felony within five years, of three or more felonies, or of a violent or domestic violence offense, under a domestic abuse protection order, or of unsound mind, who may not have a firearm.

Also called purple paint law, posted land

Vertical purple marks at least eight inches long and one inch wide on trees or posts, which post land against entry the way signs do.

Also called stop and identify, Terry stop

The ground on which an officer may stop a person in a public place, when the officer reasonably suspects the person is committing, has committed or is about to commit a felony or other public offense.

Also called temporary alimony

Alimony for a limited time, no more than five years absent extraordinary circumstances, to help a spouse regain the ability to keep the economic status quo of the marriage.

Also called landlord retaliation

A discriminatory rent increase, cut in services, or eviction because a tenant complained to a code agency or the landlord, or joined a tenants' union.

Also called warrant to search

A court order issued on probable cause and an affidavit that particularly describes the property and the place to be searched.

Also called damage deposit

Money a landlord holds against unpaid rent and damage, no more than one month's periodic rent except for pets, changes to the premises or increased liability risks.

Also called notarized will

A will the maker acknowledges and the witnesses swear to before an officer authorized to give oaths, certified under official seal.

Also called restricted license, graduated license, provisional license

A regular driver's license with restrictions, held by a 16 year old or a 17 year old licensed for less than 6 months, with limits on late nights, passengers and handheld devices.

Also called no duty to retreat

The rule that a person justified in using force, not engaged in unlawful activity and anywhere they have a right to be, has no duty to retreat.

Also called public records request

A records request for specifically identified records that would take less than eight hours of staff time, which gets an acknowledgment within 10 business days and an answer within 15 more.

Also called deadline to sue, limitation period

The time within which a claim must be brought, two years for an injury to the person or rights of another not arising from contract.

Also called substitute decision maker, next of kin

The person who decides on life-sustaining treatment with the physician when there is no directive, in order: guardian, spouse, adult child, parent, adult sibling, then next of kin.

Also called drug trafficking

Selling, making, bringing in or possessing at least the weights the trafficking law sets, such as more than one kilo or 2.2 pounds of cannabis or 28 grams of cocaine, with mandatory prison terms.

Also called eviction case, eviction lawsuit

The court case a landlord brings to get possession, with the court's notice served on the tenant at least six days before the return day.

Also called petty offense

An offense below a misdemeanor, punished by up to 30 days in the county jail and a fine of no more than $200.

Also called salary history

The wages an applicant was paid by a current or former employer, which an employer may not hold against an applicant who declines to give it.

Also called writ of restitution

The order that puts the landlord back in possession after an eviction judgment, issued on the landlord's application after a seven day automatic stay.