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1. What are the Federal Regulations for a UAV (Drone, Quadcopter)?

While the Madison Police Department does not have jurisdiction over the operation of such items, we do feel that it is important to remind our citizens of some common sense rules and Federal regulations involving the operation of UAVs. Letter from the Chief of Police

2. How do I file a police report?

The Madison Police Department documents specific incidents which occurred within the City. If you're a resident or business in Madison, an officer will respond to your home or business. You can call (256) 722-7190 or you can come by in person to the Madison Police Department, 100 Hughes Road, Madison, AL 35758.

3. How do I apply for a pistol permit?

Pistol permits are issued by the Madison County Sheriff's Office. Applications can be completed online or at the Sheriff's Office.

Online Application

4. What do I do if I am involved in a traffic accident?

First thing to do is check and see if anyone involved is injured, give first aid if possible. Then call the Police Department or have someone do it for you. If no one is injured, you should try and move the vehicles out of the roadway to a safer place. The old adage "you need to leave the cars in the roadway for the police to see" is a dangerous practice. We can usually tell what occurred based upon the vehicle damage and physical evidence at the scene. If the vehicles are not drivable, leave them in the roadway and walk to a position of safety (like the sidewalk) and wait there for the police to arrive.

It is necessary to notify your insurance agent immediately, regardless of who was at fault. If your agent requests a police report, you may pick up a copy at the police department Three days after the accident, or you can mail a request to:

Madison Police Department
Attn: Records Division
100 Hughes Rd.
Madison, Al 35758

In the event of a hit-and-run collision, a police officer will also fill out an Incident / Offense Report. You may pick up a copy at the police department.

5. How do I schedule a vacation check for my home?

Four to five days before leaving for vacation, fill out a Vacation Check Form at the Madison Police Department, located at: Madison Municipal Complex, 100 Hughes Rd. Madison, AL 35758. This information is forwarded to our patrol staff so that extra patrol of the area can be arranged. Vacation checks can also be taken over the phone.

Vacation Check Form

6. Where can I pay a traffic citation?

Traffic citations must be paid at the Municipal Court Clerk Office, 100 Hughes Road, Madison, AL 35758. Office hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The Municipal Court Clerk Office is closed on weekends and holidays. You must appear in person to pay at the Municipal Court Clerk Office. Someone else cannot pay your traffic citation for you. Please pay by cash, certified check, or money order, and bring the traffic citation the officer issued to you. When mailing your payment, please pay by cash, certified check, or money order, and include the traffic citation the officer issued to you. Please sign the back of the citation before mailing it in with your payment. For more information, call the Municipal Court Clerk Office at (256) 772-5617.

7. Can I make a police report over the phone?

Reports are not taken over the phone. To make a police report, you must appear at the Madison Police Department located in the Madison Municipal Complex, 100 Hughes Road, Madison AL, 35758, or request an officer to respond to your location within the City of Madison. To request an officer for non-emergencies, call (256) 722-7190. For emergencies call 9-1-1.

8. How do I obtain a copy of a police or accident report?

Copies of reports are not released to the general public. In order to obtain a copy of the report, you must be a named victim of the crime report or the driver, registered owner of the vehicle, injured party, or property owner named in the collision report. Reports are free of charge to involved parties. A fee of $5 will be charged to authorized third parties (i.e. insurance companies). Please allow four to five business days for the approval and data entry process. For more information, call the Records Division. Persons arrested will need to obtain a copy of his/her police report through the Madison County District Attorney's Office. Copies of accident reports are available Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Accident reports are free of charge to involved parties only. Please allow four to five business days for the approval and data entry process. For more information, call the Records Division.

9. How do I get my vehicle out of impound?

All vehicles require a release obtained from the Records window of the Madison Police Department, as well as a fee of $5 or $25 depending on the reason for the impound. Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted. Vehicles are only released to the registered or legal owner(s) of the vehicle, and this person must have a valid driver's license. In the event the registered or legal owner does not possess a valid driver's license, a driver must be present who does have a valid driver's license. Also, you must show proof of current insurance and ownership of the vehicle. Once a release is obtained, contact the tow company for total storage fees and hours the vehicle may be retrieved from the impound yard. For additional information, contact Import Wrecker at (256) 532-7400. They are located at 30585 Highway 72 W. Madison, AL 35756.

View Map

10. How can I find out if someone is in jail?

You can check online by clicking the link below. If they have been arrested by another agency, then you will have to contact the arresting agency. Check Online with the Madison County Jail

11. How can I find out who is investigating my case?

Cases requiring additional follow-up or investigation are assigned to one of the detectives in the Investigations Division. If you wish to speak with the detective assigned to your case, you can contact the Investigations Division at (256) 772-5674.

12. When should I call 9-1-1?

9-1-1 is for emergencies. These types of calls would include life threatening situations where someone’s life is in danger or a crime is occurring and police assistance is needed immediately. The non-emergency number is (256) 722-7190.

13. Who do I contact for traffic problems or enforcement requests?

You can contact Lt. Nic McRae, Monday – Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, at (256) 464-8433. You may also have a shift supervisor who is on-duty contact you when the problem is occurring or the request is needed. Call (256) 722-7190, leave a message, and a shift supervisor will call you. Shifts are at the following times:

• 6:00 am - 2:00 pm - First Shift Supervisor
• 2:00 pm - 10:00 pm - Second Shift Supervisor
• 10:00 pm - 6:00 am - Third Shift Supervisor

Please have the following information when you talk to the supervisor

• The traffic problem or enforcement request time(s) of day
• The traffic problem or enforcement request day(s) of the week
• The traffic problem or enforcement request location(s)

14. Who do I contact about property and evidence?

You will need to call a Crime Scene Detective at (256) 772-5619 or 5679 to schedule an appointment to retrieve your property and/or evidence.

15. What is the Chaplain Program?

The Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Program was formed in 1994 to serve both law enforcement personnel and victims of crime in our community. Chaplains respond to counsel, assist and support victims and witnesses of critical incidents and crises, including death notifications, suicides, homicides, hostage situations, and other traumatic events. The Chaplains serve the citizens of Madison with concern and care when crime and trauma affects them.

16. What is the ordinance on door-to-door soliciting?

Sec. 14-7. - Door-to-door soliciting. (a) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings: (1) Soliciting means any of the following activities: a. Seeking to obtain orders for the sale or exchange of goods, wares, merchandise or perishables of any kind, for any kind of remuneration or consideration, regardless of whether advance payment is sought. b. Seeking to obtain prospective customers to apply for or to purchase insurance, publications or subscriptions to publications. c. Seeking to obtain contributions of any thing of value for the benefit of any individual, association, organization, corporation or program. d. Seeking to obtain orders or prospective customers for goods or services. e. Requesting money or contributions of other goods or services for any charity, nonprofit organization, for-profit organization, or any other type or form of entity. (2) Solicitor means a person engaged in the activities defined by this section as soliciting. (3) Residence means any living unit contained within any building or structure that is occupied by any person as a dwelling consistent with the definition of "residence" as defined in the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Madison. (4) Registrant or registered solicitor means any person who is subject to this section and who has obtained a valid certificate of registration from the City of Madison. (5) Charitable organization means any enterprise entered into with the primary purpose to pursue social, charitable or other benevolent activities, and that is classified as a tax-exempt organization under applicable provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code or the regulations thereunder. (6) Person means a natural person. (b) Registration requirements. (1) Registration. All persons desiring to engage in soliciting at residences in the City of Madison shall apply to the City of Madison at a cost of $75.00, paid in cash or cash equivalent, for an annual certificate of registration. The certificate shall be maintained by the City of Madison and a legible copy shall be carried by the registrant at all times while soliciting. Upon request for inspection by an occupant of a residence, police officer or revenue department employee while the registered solicitor is transacting his business or seeking to transact his business at any residence, the registrant shall show his or her copy of the registration certificate. In addition to the registration fee, all other city ordinances levying business license fees and other license fees and taxes are applicable, including the business license ordinance requiring transient vendors to obtain a business license. (2) Application for certificate. The city shall provide a standard form for use for registration of solicitors. The applicant for the registration certificate shall state in writing upon his or her oath or affirmation that the information is truthfully provided to the best of his or her knowledge and belief. The applicant shall supply with or upon the registration form the following information: a. Applicant's true, correct and legal name, and the name of the organization for which he/she will be soliciting. b. Address and phone number of applicant's home and applicant's place of business. c. Names and addresses of the corporate officers, partners and/or managers, if any, of the entity for which the applicant will be soliciting. d. The purpose for which soliciting will be done. e. A brief description of the method of presentation that will be made. f. Whether a permit, license or certificate of registration from any city in connection with soliciting has ever been revoked, explaining the circumstances. g. A statement as to whether or not the applicant has ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony. h. Documentation that the person is authorized to solicit for the organization. (3) Nonendorsement. In addition, the applicant shall certify on the application form that if his or her registration is granted, he or she will not state, imply or represent to any person that the issuance of the certificate is an endorsement by the City of Madison of the product, service, solicitor or organization represented by the solicitor. (4) Proof of identification required. No certificate of registration shall be issued except upon proof of identification by the applicant providing one of the following, bearing a photograph of said applicant: a. A valid driver's license of any state in the United States. b. A valid United States Uniform Service Identification. c. A valid passport. d. A valid identification issued by any agency of a state for the purpose of identification of the holder. (5) Registration complete with issuance. Registration shall be complete when the city issues the certificate of registration, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. (6) Form of certificate. Each certificate shall be numbered, shall list the name of the individual solicitor and all organizations on whose behalf he or she is authorized to solicit, the date on which the certificate will expire, and shall be dated and signed by the City of Madison Revenue Department. (7) Maintenance of registry. The city shall maintain, available for public inspection during normal business hours, a record of every application received and acted upon, together with any information pertaining thereto, all certificates of registration issued, and all denials of applications. Each application shall be numbered in consecutive order as filed, and each certificate issued shall be assigned a number exclusive to the registrant. (8) Renewal. Certificates shall be valid for the calendar year in which they were issued and shall expire at midnight on December 31st of such year. Any certificate that has not been revoked may be renewed upon request of the registrant and upon payment of $75.00 in cash or cash equivalent. The applicant shall be required to fill out a renewal application providing the information required in the initial registration. (9) Nontransferability. Certificates of registration shall be issued only in the name of the applicant and the firms, corporations or associations on whose behalf he or she is authorized to solicit. Each natural person soliciting must obtain a certificate of registration. Certificates shall be nontransferable. It shall be a violation for a solicitor whose certificate authorizes soliciting on behalf of a firm named in the certificate to solicit on behalf of any other firm, organization or association, or for any purpose other than that specified on the application. (c) Exemptions from registration. The registration provisions of this section do not apply to the following: (1) Persons making solicitations solely for a church, religious organization or charitable organization, including any unincorporated association or corporation under the supervision and control of any church, charitable organization or religious organization, if the church or organization is tax exempt under the provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code. (2) Students soliciting contributions to finance extracurricular academic, social, athletic, artistic, scientific or cultural programs, provided that the solicitation and its purpose have been approved by the principal, president or chief administrator of the school that the students attend. (3) Persons canvassing for the purpose of distributing political literature or materials on behalf of a political party, candidate or public issue, or introducing themselves as supporters of a candidate, political party, cause or issue. (4) Persons making solicitations solely for a nationally recognized youth organization such as the YMCA, YWCA, scouting or boys' and girls' clubs. All other provisions of this section shall apply to those who qualify for an exemption. (d) Deceptive soliciting practices prohibited. (1) No solicitor or canvasser shall intentionally or recklessly make any materially false or fraudulent statement in the course of soliciting. (2) No solicitor shall use a fictitious name, an alias, or any name other than his or her true, correct and legal name. (3) No solicitor shall represent, directly or by implication, that the City of Madison or any other governmental entity endorses the solicitation, or that the granting of a certificate of registration implies any endorsement of the individual solicitor, the solicitor's product or service. (e) No registration of felons. No certificate of registration shall be issued to any person who has been convicted of a federal or state felony. (f) Revocation of certificate. Any certificate of registration issued hereunder shall be revoked by the City of Madison if the registrant is convicted of a violation of this section, if the registrant has falsified the application, or otherwise becomes disqualified for the issuance of a certificate of registration. Notice of revocation shall be immediately given to the registrant by personal service or by certified mail to the address listed on the application. Immediately upon the giving of such notice, the certificate of registration shall become null and void and shall remain so unless the revocation is ordered rescinded by the City of Madison. (g) Appeal. An applicant whose registration was denied or registrant whose certificate was revoked shall have the right to appeal to the revenue office of the City of Madison. An applicant shall also have the right to appeal any adverse decision of the revenue office to the city council. Any appeal must be demanded in writing sent by certified mail to the revenue office within seven calendar days of the decision that is being appealed. The written appeal shall sufficiently describe in detail the appealed action and the grounds of appeal. The right of appeal to the city council is not in derogation of any other rights in law or equity the applicant might have. (h) Residential "no soliciting" notices. (1) Any occupant of a residence or occupants of a multifamily dwelling who desire(s) not to have solicitors call on said residence(s) shall give notice of the desire to refuse solicitors by displaying a clearly visible weatherproof placard no smaller than 16 square inches and no larger than 94 square inches stating "No Soliciting" which shall be posted on or near the main entrance of the private property and not within the public right-of-way. (2) Residents of a residential subdivision may indicate their desire not to have solicitors call on any residences in that subdivision by giving notice of the desire to refuse solicitors by displaying a clearly visible weatherproof placard no smaller than eight inches by ten inches and no larger than 18 inches by 24 inches stating "No Soliciting" which shall be posted on or near the main entrance of the subdivision on private property and not within the public right-of-way. (3) The display of said placard shall be deemed to constitute notice to any solicitor that the inhabitant of the residence does not desire to invite solicitors. (i) Duties of solicitors. (1) Every solicitor shall, upon entering premises on which a residence is located, examine the main entrance to the premises for any "No Soliciting" placard, and if one is posted, desist in any efforts to solicit or to leave any literature concerning the solicitation at that residence. Possession of a certificate of registration does not relieve any solicitor of this duty. (2) It is unlawful for any person to appear, canvass or solicit at any private residence whereon a placard bearing the words "No Soliciting" is posted for public view indicating that solicitors are not wanted at such residence with the purpose of circumventing subsection (i)(1) of this section through ruse, deception or concealment of a purpose to solicit or to take action calculated to secure an audience with the occupant of a residence that has a posted "No Soliciting" notice. Possession of a certificate of registration does not relieve any solicitor of this duty. (3) Any solicitor who is asked to leave any residence by the occupant shall immediately and peacefully depart. Possession of a certificate of registration does not relieve any solicitor of this duty. (4) Every solicitor shall at all times, while exercising the privilege in the City of Madison incident to the permit, carry upon his person his permit, and the same shall be exhibited by such person whenever he is requested to do so by any police officer or by any person who is solicited. (j) Time-of-day restrictions on soliciting. It is a violation of this section for any person, whether registered or not, to solicit any person at his or her residence before 8:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. Central Standard Time, unless the solicitor has express permission from the resident to do so. (k) Penalty for nonregistration or violation. Any person violating any provision of this section shall upon conviction be punished under the provisions of section 14-1 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Madison, Alabama. (Ord. No. 2007-71, §§ 1—11, 5-29-07) Editor's note— Ord. No. 2007-71, adopted May 29, 2007, has been treated as superceding Ord. No. 92-64, adopted June 9, 1992, which pertained to solicitation of merchandise upon private residences and from which former § 14-7 derived.