Privacy Law Library

Consumer Identity Protection Act

AL CIPA (identity theft)

Financial · Credit reporting · Other

Makes identity theft and trafficking in stolen identities crimes, gives victims a civil action with statutory damages, and provides court orders confirming the victim's innocence. On such an order, consumer reporting agencies must block fraudulent information from the victim's credit report within 30 days.

Where
Alabama
Citation
Ala. Code §§ 13A-8-190 to 13A-8-201 (Act 2001-312; amended Acts 2003-355, 2006-148, 2012-368)
Status
In force
Enforced by
District attorneys and Attorney General (criminal); victims (civil)
People can sue
Yes
Penalties
Identity theft and trafficking in stolen identities are Class B felonies; obstructing justice using a false identity is a Class C felony. Restitution is required. Victims may sue for the greater of $5,000 per incident or three times actual damages, plus attorney fees and costs.
Applies to
  • Any person who, without consent and with intent to defraud, obtains, records, or uses another person's identifying information
  • Consumer reporting agencies (blocking fraudulent information on court order)
  • State, county, and municipal agencies that issue identification documents

Rights it gives people

  • Victims who suffer loss may sue the offender for $5,000 per incident or treble actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney fees and costs.Ala. Code § 13A-8-199

Practices it requires

  • Do not, without consent and with intent to defraud, obtain, record, or access another person's identifying information, or use it to obtain goods, services, ID documents, or employment.Ala. Code § 13A-8-192
  • Consumer reporting agencies must, within 30 days of receiving a qualifying court order, block reporting of information resulting from identity theft.Ala. Code § 13A-8-200(b) · Only if: Consumer submits court order under § 13A-8-198

Sources

Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.

Unverified: Effective date of Act 2001-312 and effective dates of the later amendments were not confirmed; left null.

Research reference, not legal advice.