With spring break season’s arrival comes heavier than usual traffic. The Alabama Department of Public Safety strongly encourages motorists – particularly young drivers and their parents -- to make highway safety a priority.

“Parents, let’s be proactive this spring break. Take time to sit down with your young drivers to discuss safety  before heading to the beach or other spring break destinations, especially if your teens will be traveling with friends,” said Col. Hugh B. McCall, director of the Department of Public Safety and the state’s highest-ranking state trooper.

The Dothan Police Department is co-sponsoring a child safety seat clinic at Our New Baby tomorrow, January 30th from 1 until 3 p.m.  Our New Baby is located at 3119 Ross Clark Circle

More than one-half of all the child car safety seats in use today are installed and/or used incorrectly without parents realizing it. Bring your child safety seat by to be inspected by members of the Dothan Police Department Trained & Certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Child Passenger Safety.

For questions you may contact Tonja Shelley at 334-615-3617.

Source:  Dothan Police Department

Alabama residents who are U.S. citizens and in the process of adopting or have just adopted a child born in a foreign country may no longer need to re-adopt the child in an Alabama court to obtain a Certificate of Foreign Birth. Effective Jan. 1, 2013, a new state law gives the State Registrar of Vital Statistics authority to issue a Certificate of Foreign Birth without re-adoption in an Alabama court if certain criteria are satisfied.

Gov. Robert Bentley signed Act 2012-179 into law on April 10, 2012, which facilitates intercountry adoptions.