Huntsville Becomes 6th Alabama City to Ban Texting While Driving

Huntsville has become the sixth Alabama city to ban sending text messages while driving.

Beginning Sept. 20, it will be illegal to send text messages or check e-mail while driving in the Huntsville city limits. The ordinance approved also prohibits scrolling through music files, viewing videos and programming a destination into a satellite navigation unit while driving.

The ban covers smartphones, laptops, netbooks, electronic readers, electronic tablets and global positioning devices but not voice radios, mobile radios, commercial radios or two-way radios.

Huntsville joins Gadsden, Birmingham, Vestavia Hills, Jacksonville and Roanoke in imposing a texting ban.

The Legislature failed in its efforts this year to pass a statewide ban.