MONTGOMERY — A bill requiring drivers of commercial vehicles to be proficient in the English language received a favorable report on Wednesday in a House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Committee meeting.
Senate Bill 242 would also provide penalties and impoundment procedures for violations of the law.
State Rep. Steve Clouse (R-Ozark) spoke to 1819 News about the legislation.
“It codifies what's already in federal law — we're putting in state law now,” Clouse said. “It just makes it to where you have to have some English proficiency to read road signs, and make sure you have proper documentation.”
“A lot of issues with drivers coming in from Mexico and Canada, and then they get into different states,” he continued.
The lawmaker referenced two fatal wrecks caused by drivers who could not speak or understand English.
“Of course, we had a bad wreck last year in West Alabama that caused some deaths. Just lack of being able to follow the road signs. There was a terrible accident in Florida last year where a driver took a wide U-turn going into a median and an interstate and killed three people.”
Clouse added, “We are just trying to make sure that they have proper documentation and that they can speak English so they can read the signs.”
State Rep. AJ McCampbell (D-Demopolis) also spoke to 1819 News about SB 242, noting his disagreement with the bill’s required Class C felony charge for violations.
“I have looked at doing and getting a CDL also, and in the process of getting that CDL, you have so many hours to know how to handle these vehicles on the road,” said McCampbell. “If somebody is falsifying, and we have no way of taking care of that, then I have a problem with it."
“I have problems with us trying to make everything into felonies,” explained McCampbell. “Because when you're making things a felony, then that elevates it into a different category.”
“I would prefer a Class A misdemeanor, which would mean you could put them in jail up to a year, which is substantial,” he concluded.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Steve Clouse as chairman of the House Ways and Means General Fund. The story has been updated.
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