Currently, there is no specific prohibition against operating a motor vehicle while electronic text messaging.
This bill would prohibit a person from operating a motor vehicle while text messaging; would provide penalties; and would provide exceptions.
Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose.
The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment.
Pending third reading on day 6 Favorable from Local Legislation No. 1
Read for the second time and placed on the calendar
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Local Legislation No. 1
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call 4
Third Reading Passed
Read for the second time and placed on the calendar
Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Local Legislation
Source: Alabama Legislature