Bama Politics
  • Home
  • Alabama News
    • Alabama Economic News
    • Alabama Education News
    • Alabama Election News
    • Alabama Healthcare News
    • Alabama Legislation News
    • Alabama Local News
    • Alabama Opinion Editorials
  • Elections & Results
    • 2022 Alabama Elections & Results
    • 2021 Alabama Elections & Results
    • 2020 Alabama Elections & Results
    • 2019 Alabama Elections & Results
    • 2018 Alabama Elections & Results
    • 2017 Alabama Elections & Results
    • 2016 Alabama Elections & Results
    • 2015 Alabama Elections & Results
    • 2014 Alabama Elections & Results
    • 2013 Alabama Elections & Results
    • 2012 Alabama Elections & Results
    • 2010 Alabama Elections & Results
  • Officials
    • Statewide
    • US Representatives
    • State Senators
    • State Representatives
    • Alabama Sheriffs
    • All Profiles
  • Bills
    • 2021 Alabama Senate Bills
    • 2021 Alabama House Bills
    • All Bills
  • Places
    • Alabama Counties
    • Alabama Cities & Towns
    • Alabama Districts
  • Contact
    • General Contact
    • Opinion Articles
    • Corrections
  • About
Hey stranger! Create a free account today to follow bills, elected officials and candidates. Get an email as soon as updates happen!
Facebook icon Twitter icon Login Sign Up
  1. Bama Politics
  2. Alabama
  3. Alabama House & Senate Bills
  4. 2019 Alabama Legislative Regular Session
  5. 2019 Alabama House Bills
  6. HB 6

HB 6

Login or Sign Up to follow this page. It's free!
In Committee
Contents hide
  • 1 Bill Summary
  • 2 Bill Actions
  • 3 Bill Calendar
  • 4 Bill Text
  • 5 Bill Documents

Bill Summary

Sponsors
  • Allen Farley
Session
Regular Session 2019
Title
Motor vehicles, distracted driving, use of cell phone while operating a motor vehicle prohibited, exceptions
Description

Under existing law, a person is prohibited from using a wireless telecommunication device to write, send, or read text or data while operating a motor vehicle, with exceptions. This bill would include a standalone electronic device within the prohibition against writing, sending, or reading a text-based communication while operating a motor vehicle

This bill would prohibit a person from holding or otherwise using his or her body to support a wireless communication device or standalone electronic device while operating a motor vehicle

This bill would prohibit a person from using a wireless telecommunication device or standalone electronic device to watch, record, or capture a photograph or video while operating a motor vehicle

Under existing law, certain uses of a wireless telecommunication device are exempted from the restrictions in existing law

This bill would add the following to the list of activities exempted from the section: Hands free voice-based communications, with an exception; continuous recording devices, including dash cameras and backup cameras; utility service employees or contractors responding to a utility emergency; and law enforcement and other first responders during the performance of official duties

Existing law levies a criminal fine for a violation based on the number of prior convictions of the section. This bill would increase the fine authorized

Existing law provides that a conviction is reflected on the person's driving record as a two-point violation. This bill would provide that a third or subsequent violation of the section would be reflected on the person's driving record as a three-point violation

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

Relating to motor vehicles; to amend Sections 32-5A-350 and 32-5A-351, Code of Alabama 1975, to further provide for the prohibition against writing, sending, or reading a text-based communication while operating a motor vehicle; to prohibit a person from holding or otherwise using his or her body from supporting a wireless communication device or standalone electronic device while operating a motor vehicle; to prohibit a person from using a wireless telecommunication device or standalone electronic device to watch, record, or capture a photograph or video while operating a motor vehicle; to further provide exemptions; to increase the fine authorized; to provide further for administrative penalties for a violation; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of 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.

Subjects
Motor Vehicles

Bill Actions

Action Date Chamber Action
April 25, 2019 H Farley motion to Indefinitely Postpone adopted Voice Vote
April 25, 2019 H Public Safety and Homeland Security Amendment Offered
April 25, 2019 H Public Safety and Homeland Security Amendment Offered
April 25, 2019 H Third Reading Indefinitely Postponed
March 20, 2019 H Read for the second time and placed on the calendar 2 amendments
March 5, 2019 H Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Bill Calendar

Type Date Location Description
Hearing March 20, 2019 Room 206 at 09:00 House PS&HS Hearing

Bill Text

Download HB 6 PDF

Bill Documents

Type Link
Bill Text HB 6 - Introduced
Bill Amendments House Public Safety and Homeland Security second Amendment Offered
Bill Amendments House Public Safety and Homeland Security first Amendment Offered
  • ReCAPTCHA Privacy Policy
  • ReCAPTCHA Terms
© 2021 Copyright: Bama Politics
Privacy Policy
Top