Huntsville’s ordinance prohibiting motorists from holding any wireless telecommunications device while operating a vehicle will take effect on New Year’s Day.

Huntsville City Council President David Little sponsored the ordinance with assistance from the Huntsville Police Department. The city council passed the ordinance on Oct. 12, 2023.

According to a news release, the goal of the ordinance is to enable law enforcement to treat a handheld wireless communication device violation as a primary instead of a secondary offense.