HB793 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tammy Irons

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Telephone lines or cable lines or cell phone or other wireless communication device, willfully and maliciously disabling or obstructing, prohibited, penalties

Summary

HB793 would make it a Class A misdemeanor to willfully disable telephone lines, cables, or wireless devices to render them unusable, and it notes the bill is exempt from local-funds spending rules because it creates a new crime.

What This Bill Does

It creates a new crime for willfully and maliciously disabling a telephone line, cable, or wireless device to render it inoperable for another person, and it establishes Class A misdemeanor penalties. It acknowledges a potential local-funds expenditure impact under Amendment 621 but is exempt from those requirements because it defines a new crime or amends a crime. The act would take effect on the first day of the third month after it is passed and the Governor approves it.

Who It Affects

• People who would willfully and maliciously disable a telephone line, cable, or wireless device would face Class A misdemeanor penalties.
• The general public who rely on telephone, cable, or wireless communications would be protected from having their communications rendered unusable, and local governments would be affected by how local-funds spending rules apply to this bill (the bill is exempt from those requirements).

Key Provisions

• Creates the crime of obstructing or destroying a telephone line, cable, or wireless device, making it a Class A misdemeanor when done to render the device inoperable for another person.
• Section 2 states the bill is exempt from the local-funds expenditure requirements of Amendment 621 because it defines a new crime or amends the definition of an existing crime.
• Section 3 sets the effective date as the first day of the third month after passage and Governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses