Ala. Code
Code of Alabama

Ala. Code § 13A-3-28 (2026)

Use of Force in Resisting Arrest Prohibited.

✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026
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A person may not use physical force to resist a lawful arrest by a law enforcement officer who is known or reasonably appears to be a law enforcement officer.

(Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §635; Act 2025-423, §3.)

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases, 1983–2013 · leading case: Spencer v. State, 58 So. 3d 215 (Ala. Crim. App. 2009).
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Spencer v. State, 58 So. 3d 215 (Ala. Crim. App. 2009). · cites it 4× “This comes out of the Code of Alabama 1975, § 13A-3-28. A person may not use physical force to resist a lawful arrest by a peace officer who is known or reasonably appears to be a police officer.”
State v. Wiegmann, 714 A.2d 841 (Md. 1998). · cites it 2× “051 (West 1992 & 1998 Supp.); Haw.Rev.Stat. Ann.”
Ex Parte Wilhite, 485 So. 2d 787 (Ala. 1986). · cites it 2× “III-D-14 (1980); Alabama Code (1975), § 13A-3-28. We have reviewed the record and find no error substantially prejudicial to Wilhite.”
State v. Hobson, 577 N.W.2d 825 (Wis. 1998). · cites it 2× “See Ala. Code § 13A-3-28 (1994); Ark. Code Ann.”
State v. Valentine, 935 P.2d 1294 (Wash. 1997). “Ala. Code § 13A-3-28 (1994); Ark. Code Ann.”
Shinault v. City of Huntsville, 579 So. 2d 696 (Ala. Crim. App. 1991). · cites it 2× “" Commentary to Ala.Code 1975, § 13A-3-28 at 71; Commentary to § 13A-10-41 at 380.”
Commonwealth v. Moreira, 447 N.E.2d 1224 (Mass. 1983). “See Ala. Code § 13A-3-28 (1982); Ark. Stat. Ann.”
Brown v. City of Oklahoma City, 721 P.2d 1346 (Okla. Civ. App. 1986). · cites it 2× “38, § 7-7 (Smith-Hurd 1972); Iowa Code § 804.12 (1980); Mont.”
Glover v. State, 594 A.2d 1224 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 1991). “38, § 7-7 (Smith-Hurd 1972); Iowa Code § 804.12 (1980) (common law holding codified); Mont.”
Morris v. Town of Lexington, 915 F. Supp. 2d 1246 (N.D. Ala. 2013). · cites it 6× “Likewise, the commentary to Alabama Code § 13A-3-28 “allows a person to use reasonable force to resist an unlawful arrest.”
State v. Valentine, 935 P.2d 1294 (Wash. 1997). “[11] Ala.Code § 13A-3-28 (1994); Ark.Code Ann.”
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