Ala. Code § 45-37-210.25: Affirmative Defenses.

(a) It shall be an affirmative defense to the imposition of civil liability under this part, to be proven by a preponderance of the evidence, that:

(1) The motor vehicle was stolen or being operated by a person other than the owner of the vehicle without the effective consent of the owner.

(2) The license plate depicted in the recorded image of the violation was a stolen plate and being displayed on a motor vehicle other than the motor vehicle for which the plate had been issued.

(3) The person who received the notice of violation was not the owner of the motor vehicle at the time of the violation.

(b) To demonstrate that at the time of the violation the motor vehicle was a stolen vehicle or the license plate displayed on the motor vehicle was a stolen plate, the owner must submit proof acceptable to the hearing officer that the theft of the vehicle or license plate, prior to the time of the violation, was timely reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency.