Missed Court in Alabama: What Happens Next

What Alabama law says can follow a missed court date: whether it is a separate crime, the driver’s license rule for traffic cases, what happens to bail, and the court’s own next steps. It runs in your browser and nothing is stored.

What kind of case was the court date for?
How was the person released before the date?

Pick the state, the kind of case and how the person was released to see what that state’s law says.

Alabama failure to appear law

In Alabama, missing a required court date after release can be charged as its own crime. The statute grades it by the kind of case:

  • Released on a felony charge: Class C felony. Failing to appear after release (with or without bail) on a charge of murder or a Class A or B felony is bail jumping in the first degree, a Class C felony. (Ala. Code § 13A-10-39) Only if the charge was murder or a Class A or B felony.
    Bail jumping in the first degree is a Class C felony.
  • Released on any charge: Class A misdemeanor. Failing to appear after release on a misdemeanor or a Class C felony charge (not a Title 32 traffic misdemeanor) is bail jumping in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor. (Ala. Code § 13A-10-40) Only if the charge was a misdemeanor (other than a Title 32 traffic misdemeanor) or a Class C felony.
    Bail jumping in the second degree is a Class A misdemeanor.

When a date is missed, the court’s order is called a bench warrant.

Driver’s license after a missed traffic date in Alabama

Only where a driver deposited the license in lieu of bail on a traffic charge: on a missed date the Director of Public Safety suspends it until the charge is finally adjudicated. (Ala. Code § 32-1-5)

The Director of Public Safety shall upon receipt of a license so forwarded by the court suspend the driver license and driving privilege of the defaulting driver until notified by the court that the charge against such driver has been finally adjudicated.

Bail and bonds after a missed date in Alabama

After a missed appearance the court enters a conditional forfeiture, and the defendant or sureties have 30 days after service of the notice to file a written response showing why the bond should not be forfeited. (Ala. Code § 15-13-131)

Window to ask the court to set the forfeiture aside: 30 days after service of the conditional-forfeiture notice to respond.

To compare what posting bail costs in Alabama, see the Alabama bail bond calculator.

How to deal with a missed date in Alabama

Only the court that set the date can recall a warrant or give a new date. Contact that court’s clerk, or the lawyer or public defender on the case, who can ask the court to recall or quash the warrant.

What this page does not do

  • It does not check whether a warrant was issued in any case or whether anyone will be arrested.
  • Whether a separate failure-to-appear charge is filed is the prosecutor’s decision; what happens to bail is the court’s.
  • It collects nothing; your choices stay in your browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is failure to appear a crime in Alabama?

Yes. Released on a felony charge: Class C felony under Ala. Code § 13A-10-39; Released on any charge: Class A misdemeanor under Ala. Code § 13A-10-40.

Is missing court a felony in Alabama?

In some cases. released on a felony charge: Class C felony under Ala. Code § 13A-10-39 (only if the charge was murder or a Class A or B felony). Otherwise: released on any charge: Class A misdemeanor under Ala. Code § 13A-10-40 (only if the charge was a misdemeanor (other than a Title 32 traffic misdemeanor) or a Class C felony).

Will Alabama suspend my license for missing a traffic court date?

Only where a driver deposited the license in lieu of bail on a traffic charge: on a missed date the Director of Public Safety suspends it until the charge is finally adjudicated. The rule is in Ala. Code § 32-1-5.

Sources

Checked against the sources above on October 20, 2026.

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