It is not illegal to flip off a police officer in Alabama; doing so is considered a form of expression protected under the First Amendment as free speech. Courts have repeatedly held that showing a middle finger to law enforcement, while rude or provocative, is not itself a crime and cannot be used as the sole basis for arrest, a citation, or a traffic stop.
However, this right is not absolute. If the gesture is accompanied by behavior that incites a crowd, causes a disturbance, or crosses into threatening or violent conduct, it could potentially lead to charges such as disorderly conduct. For example, if you flip off an officer and your actions provoke others to join in or create a public disturbance, you may lose First Amendment protection and could be subject to arrest for disorderly conduct.
Police cannot lawfully detain, arrest, or ticket you solely for flipping them off, unless your conduct goes beyond mere expression and violates other laws or public order statutes. While this action is constitutionally protected, insulting an officer can escalate a situation and is generally discouraged for practical reasons.
Flipping off a cop in Alabama, by itself, is legal and constitutionally protected free speech, but if it is part of wider disruptive or threatening behavior, it could result in legal trouble.
Sources
[1] https://www.mattgreen.lawyer/single-post/2019/03/17/flipping-off-police-contempt-of-cop-or-free-speech
[2] https://www.lexipol.com/resources/blog/flying-the-finger-leads-to-a-traffic-stop-then-a-lawsuit/
[3] https://www.wirthlawoffice.com/tulsa-attorney-blog/2021/04/can-i-legally-flip-off-the-police
[4] https://www.shubinlaw.com/flipping-off-police-officers-constitutional-federal-court-affirms/
[5] https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/district-attorneys-says-alabama-teen-killed-by-20805877.php
