HB2 Alabama 2012 1st Special Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Elaine Beech
Democrat
Session: First Special Session 2012
Title: Washington Co., judge of probate, fee for performing marriage, deposited in special account in county treasury, entire fee may be used by judge of probate for the general modernization of the probate office
Summary: HB2 would ban text messaging while driving in Alabama, set fines and penalties, and require enforcement data reporting.
What This Bill Does
The bill prohibits operating a motor vehicle on public roads while writing, sending, or reading a text-based communication using a handheld wireless device. It defines penalties starting at $25 for a first violation, $50 for a second, and $75 for a third or subsequent violation, and allows officers to use this violation as the primary reason for a traffic stop. Convictions would add two points to a driver’s record. It also directs that funds from these cases go to the State General Fund, requires agencies to collect and report traffic-stop statistics (including by minority status), and provides definitions and exemptions related to the devices and activities covered. The measure is exempted from certain local-fund expenditure rules and becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects
Drivers in Alabama: are prohibited from writing, sending, or reading text-based communications on handheld wireless devices while operating a vehicle on public roads, with escalating fines and two-point driving-record penalties if convicted.
Law enforcement and state agencies: responsible for enforcing the rule, allocating funds from violations to the State General Fund, and collecting/reporting traffic-stop statistics (including information on minority groups) to the Department of Public Safety.

Key Provisions
Defines wireless telecommunication device and what constitutes writing, sending, or reading a text-based communication (e.g., text messages, instant messages, emails) using a handheld device, with exceptions for voice-operated devices that require no manual input for texting except to activate/deactivate features.
Prohibits driving on public streets/highways while manually writing, sending, or reading a text-based communication, with fines: $25 for a first violation, $50 for a second, and $75 for a third or subsequent violation.
Allows law enforcement to treat this violation as the primary or sole reason for issuing a citation.
Conviction is recorded as a two-point violation on the driver's record.
All funds from enforcement go to the State General Fund; agencies must collect and report monthly statistics on traffic stops related to this act, including minority status information, to the Department of Public Safety.
Excludes the bill from certain local-fund expenditure requirements under Amendment 621 because it creates a new crime or amends an existing one.
Effective date: the first day of the third month after passage and governor’s approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Washington County