House Committee to consider legislation making it a crime to lie about one's age during a traffic stop

February 12, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL – The Alabama House of Representatives Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee will meet today to consider making it a crime to mislead or lie to a law enforcement officer about one's age during a traffic stop.

House Bill 34 (HB34) is sponsored by State Representative Ron Bolton (R-Northport).

According to the synopsis, "Under existing law, it is a crime to give a false name or address to a law enforcement officer in the course of the officer's official duties with the intent to mislead the officer."

This presently is a Class A misdemeanor.

"Th fis bill would also include within the offense giving a false date of birth to a law enforcement officer under the same circumstances. A violation would be subject to the same criminal penalties."

"Under existing law, certain designated law enforcement officers including, constables, deputy sheriffs, and police officers in their counties and state troopers, may stop a person if the officer reasonably suspects the person is committing, has committed, or is about to commit a felony or other public offense and demand the person's name, address, and an explanation of his or her actions. No penalty is provided for failure to comply with a lawful request. This bill would further authorize a designated law enforcement officer to demand a person's date of birth under the same circumstances."

"This bill would also further provide that a person who knowingly refuses to comply with a lawful request for the information requested pursuant to a request for the information requested pursuant to a lawful stop would be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor."

The state has an enormous problem, particularly in urban areas like Birmingham, of teenagers riding the roads heavily armed looking for other teens to kill. This has contributed to Birmingham setting the all time murder record in 2024. There is also a problem with underage drinking. Especially when that drinking mixes with driving.

Law enforcement is being asked to more aggressively police areas of cities where gang violence is prevalent. Being able to stop motorists, especially car loads of young men and asking their age is seen as part of this more aggressive policing.

Youth often have truancy, curfew violations, and other offenses that do not apply to persons who have reached the age of majority.

Far too many women are having children out of wedlock or the parents divorce or the father goes to prison and the single mother are either unable or unwilling to control their sons who do poor in school, join criminal gangs that are involved in drug and sex trafficking and are menaces to their communities.

Rep. Bolton is a retired Captain in the Northport Police Department.

The Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee meets in Room 206 of the Alabama Statehouse at 9:00 a.m. CST.

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