HB114 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Randy WoodRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Crimes and offenses, public safety communications, interference with, crime established, interferences with a public safety communication or damage to equipment, penalties

Summary

HB114 would make interference with public safety communications a Class C felony, define what counts as interference, and provide for seizure of involved equipment and certain exemptions.

What This Bill Does

It creates the crime of interfering with public safety communication and specifies acts that qualify, such as damaging equipment, disrupting mass notification devices, interfering with data transmission, operating devices to cause interference, or intercepting encrypted transmissions. It assigns a Class C felony penalty and allows seizure or forfeiture of equipment used. It provides exemptions for authorized personnel and law enforcement acting in official duties, and notes that the local-funding requirements under Amendment 621 do not apply because the bill defines a new crime. The act would take effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor’s approval.

Who It Affects

• General public: could be charged with a Class C felony if they damage, displace, or interfere with public safety communications.
• Public safety agencies and their equipment: subject to criminal penalties and potential seizure/forfeiture if involved in the offense.
• Law enforcement and authorized personnel: exemptions from the offense when acting in official capacity or with written permission; utility personnel may also be exempt in their duties.
• Local governments: the bill is designed to be exempt from local funding requirements under Amendment 621 because it creates a new crime.

Key Provisions

• Defines 'public safety communication' as radio, electronic, telephone, or broadcast signals used by law enforcement, fire, 911, or emergency personnel, transmitted or received by FCC-allocated equipment.
• Establishes interference with public safety communication as a crime, including damaging or tampering with equipment, disabling mass notification devices, interfering with data transmission, operating equipment to cause interference, or intercepting encrypted transmissions.
• Exempts certain individuals from prosecution, including certified law enforcement officers acting in official duties, agency personnel, individuals with written permission from agency heads, and utility personnel acting in the course of their duties.
• Provides for seizure and possible forfeiture of equipment used in the offense; the offense is a Class C felony.
• Notes that the bill is excluded from certain local-funding requirements under Amendment 621 because it defines a new crime or amends an existing one.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on 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

Crimes and Offenses