Huntsville Municipal Court is also a training agency for the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Courses. All DDC instructors must be trained in an approved Instructor Development Course registered with the National Safety Council. The goal of the program is to prevent traffic crashes and violations and to reduce fatalities, injuries and costs to society. This is accomplished through providing knowledge and techniques to avoid traffic crashes. Also, to influence and challenge participants to change their behind-the-wheel behaviors and attitudes so that they will choose to drive safely, courteously and responsibly.

You may attend a defensive driving program if you have received a traffic citation or as a volunteer. If you are attending for a traffic citation we determine the level of school you are to attend by your driving record. We offer the DDC-4, DDC-8, Alive at 25 and the Attitudinal Dynamics of Driving. The class fee can range from $25.00 up to $100.00 depending on the level of class you are to attend, in addition to your court cost fee. If you are attending as a volunteer student or senior citizen, the fee for the class will be $13.00.

This is an award-winning program, which has received many nationally recognized awards and accreditations certificates.

Highway Intoxication Seminars

Court Referral Education Programs were established in the State of Alabama in 1973. These agencies were developed to provide education to defendants with alcohol and/or other drug offenses. These programs are to reduce crime committed by offenders under the influence of alcohol or other drugs of abuse by offering them the information necessary to affect a positive change in their behavior.

The Huntsville Municipal Court Highway Intoxication Seminar offers the Level I, Level II and Youth and Juvenile Education Programs as recommended by the Administrative Office of Courts. The fee for the Level I program is $115.00, Level II program is $250.00 and the Youth and Juvenile Educational program is $115.00. Policy requires a mandatory fee payment prior to issuing a schedule for class.

The Level I program is a twelve (12) hour program, the Level II program is a twenty-four (24) hour program, and the Youth and Juvenile Education program is a twelve (12) hour program. We schedule two classes per week for either two weeks or four weeks depending on the class level.

The Highway Intoxication Seminar serves Huntsville Municipal Court, three (3) Madison District Courts, five (5) Circuit Courts, and the cities of Gurley, New Hope, Owens Cross Roads, Triana, and Madison. Additionally, the Federal Court and all other referrals brought to this seminar.

In Huntsville Municipal Court, the defendant once assessed and sentenced will immediately be referred to one of the levels of the Highway Intoxication Seminar as part of the court process. Outside defendants must have a referral from their agency before registering for the Court Referral Program.

Kid's Court

Kid's Court began in 2000 as an educational program for the Huntsville City Schools 4th graders. All 4th grade students from city schools attend a one (1) hour program to learn about the court system and probation. The children perform a mock trial where students will role play the following duties: Defense Attorney, Defendant, Prosecuting Attorney, Judge, Bailiff, and all remaining students will be jurors. This is a very popular program with the children.