The Alabama House of Representatives passed legislation that would prohibit citizens from placing electronic vehicle tracking devices on other people’s vehicles. People could still place tracking devices on vehicles they own.
House Bill 153 (HB153) is sponsored by State Representative Allen Treadaway.
Treadaway is a retired police chief for the City of Birmingham. He chairs the House Public Safety and Public Safety Committee.
According to the synopsis, “This bill would make it a crime to place an electronic tracking device on the property of another person without the consent of the owner and would provide for penalties. This bill would prohibit a person from placing an electronic tracking device on the property of another in violation of an established court order and would provide for penalties.
“A person who, without the consent of the owner or except as otherwise authorized by law, places any electronic tracking device on the property of another person with the intent to surveil, stalk, or harass, or for any other unlawful purpose, is guilty of the crime of electronic stalking in the first degree.” This would be a Class C felony.
“A person who violates this section and whose conduct violates an existing domestic violence protection order, elder abuse protection order, temporary restraining order, or any other court order, shall be guilty of a Class B felony.”
Outside of those circumstances, this would be, “the crime of electronic stalking in the second degree.” – a Class A misdemeanor.
Rep. Juandalynn Givan asked if this would prevent a woman from putting a tracking device on her boyfriend’s vehicle.
“Why would you want to put a tracking device on the vehicle of a car of someone you are dating?” Treadaway answered.
“Sometimes men do lie,” Givan responded.
Treadaway said, “If they want to get away, just let them go away.”
Treadaway was asked if this would prevent a parent from putting a tracking device on their child’s car.
“You can still put a tracking device on any vehicle that you own,” Treadaway explained.
Treadaway explained that the Judiciary Committee replaced the original bill with a committee substitute. The House voted to adopt the committee substitute on a 101 to 0 vote.
HB153 then passed the House of Representatives as substituted and amended on a 101 to 0 vote. The legislation now goes to the Alabama Senate, where it has not yet been assigned to a committee.
Tuesday is day 16 of the regular session. The regular session is limited by the Alabama Constitution to no more than thirty legislative days.
The House will convene at 1:00 p.m., and the Senate will convene at 2:30 p.m.
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