In 2020, 1,844 crashes were the result of texting and driving. Council President David Little, with assistance from the Huntsville Police Department, voted in favor of the hands-free driving law on October 12, 2023. This law started on January 1, 2024, and the ordinance seeks to reduce the number of distracted driving-related motor vehicle accidents in Huntsville. This law further enforces the previous texting-while-driving law in the state. The Huntsville Chief of Police Kirk Giles states that this law creates safer roadways and decreases the amount of distractions while driving. The ordinance prohibits drivers to do the following while driving:

• Use a hand-held device to write, send, or read in any texted-based communication;
• Watching, recording, or taking photos or videos;
• Using a voice-based communication while holding a wireless device; or
• Physically holding or supporting a wireless telecommunications device.

The law states that it is now a Class C Misdemeanor to be holding a phone while operating a vehicle. It is a secondary offense, which means that if you get pulled over for reckless driving and an officer sees you using a phone, it is a separate offense. Even if you are stopped at a red light and an officer sees you on a device, you can still get pulled over. Head’s up, Alabama!