HB353 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tommy Hanes

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Motor vehicles, texting while driving, penalty increased, exemptions further provided for, fee assessed, Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, Sec. 32-5A-350.1 added; Sec. 32-5A-350 am'd.

Summary

HB 353 would raise penalties for texting while driving, create new penalties for crashes caused by texting, expand exemptions for emergency vehicles, and add a Public Safety Fund fee, with tougher rules for commercial drivers and when a child is in the vehicle.

What This Bill Does

The bill tightens the texting-while-driving ban by increasing fines and adding potential jail time, while preserving exemptions for emergency services, parked vehicles, and pre-programmed GPS use. It creates a new offense for causing a traffic crash while texting, with escalating penalties and license suspensions or revocations, including harsher penalties for commercial drivers and for crashes involving a minor. It adds a $5 fee to fines to fund the Public Safety Fund and notes additional local-fund rules do not block the bill under specified exceptions.

Who It Affects

• General drivers in Alabama who text while driving would face higher fines and possible license suspension, with exemptions for emergencies, parked vehicles, and pre-programmed GPS directions remaining allowed.
• Commercial drivers and drivers involved in crashes while texting or with a child in the vehicle would face harsher penalties, including CDL revocation or potential imprisonment, depending on the offense and circumstances.

Key Provisions

• Section 32-5A-350 amended: bans writing, sending, or reading text-based communications while driving; sets escalating fines for first through third+ violations; preserves certain exemptions (emergency services, parked on shoulder, pre-programmed GPS), and adds a $5 Public Safety Fund fee.
• New Section 32-5A-350.1: adds criminal penalties for causing a traffic accident while texting, with increasing punishment across multiple offenses, license suspensions or revocations, and additional penalties for commercial drivers and for crashes involving a child; specifies double minimums if a child under 16 is in the vehicle and notes non-applicability of habitual felony offender provisions; effective date and local-funds exceptions included.

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