Alabama Constitution Section 24 - Navigable waters declared free public highways; taxes, tolls, etc., for use of shores or wharves.
Alabama Constitution – Section 24
Title: Navigable waters declared free public highways; taxes, tolls, etc., for use of shores or wharves.
Text of the Section:
All navigable waters shall remain forever public highways, free to the citizens of the state and the United States, without tax, impost, or toll; and no tax, toll, impost, or wharfage shall be exacted or collected from the owner of any merchandise or commodity for the use of the shores or any wharf erected on the shores, or in or over the waters of any navigable stream, unless the same be expressly authorized by law.
Explanation:
Section 24 of the Alabama Constitution ensures free access to navigable waters for the public and commerce, emphasizing that:
Navigable waters are public highways and should always remain open and free for use.
No taxes or tolls can be charged for using these waters or adjacent wharves (docking structures), unless specifically authorized by law.
This provision protects the rights of merchants and citizens by preventing arbitrary or unauthorized fees for moving goods via public waterways.
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