SB261 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Dick Brewbaker

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Motor vehicles, school bus operation, handheld cell phone or handheld wireless communication device, use while driving prohibited, exceptions, penalties

Summary

SB261 would bar school bus drivers from using cell phones while driving and set penalties, with an emergency exception.

What This Bill Does

It makes it illegal for a person operating a school bus to communicate on a cell phone while driving. Violations could result in a fine of up to $100 per incident. An emergency is the only explicit exception to this rule, and the bill defines what counts as a cell phone. The bill also notes it creates a new crime, which affects how it interacts with local funding rules, and it becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it is enacted by the governor.

Who It Affects

• School bus drivers: would be prohibited from using any cell phone while driving a bus, with fines up to $100 per violation; emergency communications are allowed.
• School districts and bus operators: must enforce the new rule and may be impacted by the legal change and its interaction with local-funding requirements.
• Students and families: may experience increased safety due to reduced driver distraction.

Key Provisions

• Prohibition on operating a school bus while communicating on a cell phone, with an emergency exception.
• Penalty of up to $100 fine per violation.
• Definition of 'cell phone' to include various types of communication devices capable of sending/receiving calls or texts.
• Section 2 clarifies the bill is exempt from local-funding requirement rules ( Amendment 621) because it creates a new crime, and Section 3 sets the effective date as the first day of the third month after passage and governor 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

Motor Vehicles