HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Two and a half years after Huntsville’s hands-free ordinance took effect, city leaders and police officers are issuing a fresh reminder to motorists: putting down your phone behind the wheel isn’t just the law, it can save a life.
Passed by the City Council in October 2023 and officially going into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, Huntsville’s hands-free ordinance treats holding a wireless device while driving as a primary offense. Previously, under the city’s older texting ordinance, officers needed another reason such as a broken taillight or a seatbelt violation to pull over a driver suspected of distracted driving. Now, simply holding a phone behind the wheel is all the reason an officer needs to initiate a traffic stop.
For Huntsville City Council President David Little, who sponsored the ordinance alongside the Huntsville Police Department (HPD), the fight against distracted driving is deeply personal…