Last month, Alabama began enforcing a strengthened hands-free driving law that prohibits motorists from holding or manipulating handheld electronic devices while behind the wheel, according to state officials.
The amendment to Code § 32-5A-350, originating from Senate Bill 301 passed in 2023, makes it a Class C misdemeanor to physically hold a wireless telecommunications device while driving. The law prohibits more than a single swipe or tap to begin or end a call and bans reading or sending texts, watching videos, or recording while operating a vehicle.
Law enforcement officers are now authorized to stop and ticket drivers solely for violating the hands-free law; it is considered a primary offense, meaning no other traffic infraction is necessary to initiate a stop.
Penalties by Offense Level:
First offense: $50 fine, one license point
Second offense (within 24 months): $100 fine, two points
Third offense: $150 fine, three points
Accruing 12 points over two years may result in license suspension. The law continues to allow the use of voice-activated or Bluetooth-connected devices and permits a single swipe or press to initiate or end calls. Emergency service calls are also exempt.
Gov. Kay Ivey signed the legislation into law in June 2023. The legislation included a one-year warning period, beginning June 2024, to promote voluntary compliance.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and local police are implementing a zero-tolerance approach. Officers are trained to identify risky driving patterns — such as lane swerving or drifting — as indicators of handheld device use.
Police urge drivers to install phone mounts or use Bluetooth devices, preset GPS navigation and entertainment, silence or disable notifications, and pull off safely before interacting with a device. No phone call or message is worth the risk of dying or killing someone.
