The Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill requiring all commercial drivers to be proficient in English and making it a crime to present a false commercial driver’s license.
Senate Bill 242, sponsored by Sen. Lance Bell, R-Pell City, would codify a federal law that requires English proficiency for commercial drivers.
“A lot of the problem is the ID … is legitimate, but the person having that ID is not that person,” said Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark.
Under the bill, individuals who knowingly make, present or use a false public document and present the document as a valid commercial driver’s license or commercial learner permit will be charged with a Class D felony punishable by one year and one day to five years in prison.
The bill also has a $1,000 fine for operators and a $2,000 for drivers if the driver is not proficient in English and receives an additional traffic citation. The fines are doubled for subsequent offenses.