HB24 Alabama 2022 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: K.L. Brown
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2022
Title: Motor vehicles, distracted driving, use of cell phone while operating a motor vehicle prohibited, exceptions, Secs. 32-5A-353 to 32-5A-358, inclusive, added; Sec. 32-5A-350 repealed; Secs. 32-5A-351, 32-5A-352, am'd and renumbered, 32-10-8 am'd.
Summary: HB24 would expand Alabama's distracted-driving rules to ban watching/recording or holding a wireless device and certain voice-based actions while driving, raise penalties, and establish a codified CiCi and Jay's Law with enforcement and reporting provisions.
What This Bill Does
It prohibits operating a motor vehicle while using a wireless device to text, watch or record photos/videos, or engage in voice-based communication, with several exceptions. It changes penalties so first and second violations are two-point offenses, while third or subsequent violations are three-point offenses, and sets fines of $100, $200, and $300 respectively. It creates CiCi and Jay's Law, renumbers and amends related code sections, repeals an old section, requires enforcement data collection, and directs fines to the State General Fund, while noting the bill is exempt from local-funds requirements due to specified exceptions. It becomes effective on the first day of the third month after the Governor signs it into law.

Who It Affects
General drivers in Alabama would face new prohibitions on using wireless devices while driving (texting, video/photo capture, and certain voice-based actions), with specific exceptions, and would incur driving-record points and fines for violations.
Public safety and other state/local agencies (law enforcement, emergency responders, utility workers, physicians) as well as vehicle operators would operate under defined exemptions allowing certain device uses during emergencies or specific circumstances, and enforcement would require data reporting and fund allocation to the State General Fund.

Key Provisions
The bill adds CiCi and Jay's Law as §§ 32-5A-353 to 32-5A-358 and defines terms like text-based communication and wireless telecommunications device.
It bans operating a motor vehicle while: (a) writing/sending/reading text messages, (b) watching/recording/photographing or video capturing, (c) using a handheld device for voice-based communications, and (d) physically holding or supporting a wireless device.
It lists exceptions in § 32-5A-356, including emergency use, parked vehicle use, GPS navigation with limitations, hands-free or voice-activated technologies, dash cameras, utility/emergency responder duties, law enforcement, ignition interlock devices, and limited one-handed operation for certain 18+ scenarios.
Penalties are specified as two-point violations for first/second convictions and three-point violations for third or subsequent convictions, with fines of $100, $200, and $300 respectively and no court costs.
Section 32-5A-350 is repealed; Sections 32-5A-351 and 32-5A-352 are amended and renumbered to 32-5A-359 and 32-5A-360, and fines are allocated to the State General Fund with mandatory reporting of traffic stops including minority data.
The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it passes and is approved, and it is stated to be exempt from local-funds requirements under Amendment 621 due to creating a new crime or changing an existing one.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Motor Vehicles