U.S. Attorney Vance says State of Alabama and ALEA Receive Money from Department of Transportation and are Subject to Title VI Nondiscrimination Prohibition

Following widespread closures and reduction in services at driver license offices across Alabama, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced today that it is investigating whether these actions by the State and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin in programs and activities receiving federal assistance, said Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance.

DOT has sent a letter to the state informing officials that it is opening a Title VI investigation following the DMV closures.

The State of Alabama and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, in particular, receive substantial federal assistance from the Department of Transportation and, therefore, are subject to Title VI's nondiscrimination prohibition, Vance said.

As this is an investigation conducted by the Department of Transportation, any inquiries about the matter should be directed to that department, she said.