HB198 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Alan Harper

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Motor vehicles, distracted driving, prohibition of, penalties

Summary

HB198 would prohibit a broad set of distracted driving behaviors and set penalties for drivers who cause unsafe operation.

What This Bill Does

It adds a new distracted driving offense for activities like reading or writing, grooming, handling pets or unsecured cargo, using wireless devices, or other distractions while driving. It expands the existing ban on texting to cover these distractions. Violators face fines of $25 (first), $50 (second), and $75 (third or later), and the offense adds two points to the driver's record; police can cite it as the primary reason for a traffic stop. The bill becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and is considered exempt from certain local-funding requirements because it defines a new crime.

Who It Affects

• Drivers operating on public roads who would be prohibited from distracted driving and face fines and points on their driving record
• Law enforcement and courts who would enforce the law, issue citations, and record violations on driving records

Key Provisions

• Prohibits distracted driving on public roads, including inattention caused by reading, writing, grooming, interacting with pets or unsecured cargo, using wireless devices, or other distractions
• Defines distracted driving and wireless telecommunication device
• Imposes fines: $25 first, $50 second, $75 third or subsequent, and adds a two-point violation to the driving record
• Allows law enforcement to issue citations for distracted driving as the primary reason and sets effective date; excludes local-funding requirements by defining a new crime

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

Subjects

Motor Vehicles