Alabama has joined the majority of other states in enacting a law that prohibits texting and e-mailing while driving. Effective August 1, 2012, the law makes it unlawful to manually write, send or read a text or e-mail while operating a motor vehicle. Alabama Code Β§ 32-21-1. Violators will be subject to fines of $25, $50 and $75, respectively, for their first, second and third or subsequent offenses. For each offense, a two-point violation would be placed on the offenderβs driving record.