Proposed Alabama Law Will Make Lying to Police a Crime
By Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
January 5, 2025
MONTGOMERY, AL. A new bill which makes lying to the police a crime is being considered by state legislators.
But some have questioned the need for this additional crime since persons who give false information such as a fake name can already be charged for obstructing law enforcement.
House Bill 34, which has been pre-filed for the upcoming legislative session in Alabama by Rep. Bolton, seeks to introduce new criminal penalties for certain interactions with law enforcement during investigatory stops.
The proposed legislation would make it a Class A misdemeanor to knowingly provide a false name, address, or date of birth to a law enforcement officer performing official duties.
Additionally, the bill would create an offense for willfully refusing to provide information, such as a name, address, date of birth, or an explanation of actions, when an officer has reasonable suspicion of a crime.
The legislation updates state law to explicitly allow officers to demand this information during warrantless stops in public places. However, the bill specifies that individuals cannot be required to provide self-incriminating information.
In Alabama, if a police officer stops you for suspected criminal activity (a “Terry stop”), you must provide your name, address, and an explanation of your actions, but the law doesn’t always require you to produce a physical ID like a driver’s license, though it’s often expected and helpful; failing to identify yourself can lead to criminal charges.
With more individuals refusing to cooperate with police or to identify themselves, Rep. Bolton said that the law will compel them to do so or face criminal charges.
HB34 comes at the request of law enforcement to solve two issues. One, it adds the provision for giving a false date of birth to an officer when identifying oneself, to the current giving false name or address law. Secondly it will add the requirement to provide identification to a law enforcement officer when the officers request it and is based on reasonable suspicion that a crime is occurring or has occurred.
If passed and signed into law, the bill would take effect on October 1, 2027.
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