Alabama House Bill HB16

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/4/25
• Refer: 2/4/25

Caption

Crimes and offenses; authorizes law enforcement officer to demand suspect's date of birth in certain circumstances, criminalizes providing false date of birth to law enforcement

Impact

If enacted, HB16 would categorize the act of providing false identification information—including a date of birth—as a Class A misdemeanor. This would potentially lead to increased enforcement of identification verification laws and may deter individuals from misleading law enforcement personnel. The effective date for the bill is set for October 1, 2025, allowing time for public awareness and law enforcement training regarding the new requirements.

Summary

House Bill 16 aims to amend Alabama law regarding the information that individuals must provide to law enforcement officers during official duties. Currently, it is a crime to give a false name or address, and this bill proposes to extend that criminal offense to include providing a false date of birth. The intent of the bill is to enhance the accountability and reliability of information shared with law enforcement during encounters, particularly when officers have reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.

Contention

Although the bill is generally supported for its intent to strengthen law enforcement's ability to gather accurate information, there may be concerns regarding the implications for civil liberties. Critics argue that expanding the definition of misleading information may lead to abuses of power or overly punitive measures against individuals already in vulnerable situations. Legislative discussions could highlight the balance between public safety and the rights of individuals during law enforcement interactions.