Skip to main content
H.R. 3535 111th Congress House

ALERT Drivers Act

Official title: To amend title 23, United States Code, to reduce the amount of Federal highway funding available to States that do not enact a law prohibiting an individual fr… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend title 23, United States Code, to reduce the amount of Federal highway funding available to States that do not enact a law prohibiting an individual from sending or receiving text messages while operating a motor vehicle.

Introduced: September 16, 2009 See on congress.gov
Transportation and Public Works Motor vehiclesRoads and highwaysTelephone and wireless communicationTransportation programs fundingTransportation safety and security
Sign in to write a letter

Free account. One morning email at most, only on days something moved. Already have one? Sign in.

This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 9, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Sep 8, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Sep 8, 2009
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action September 9, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Avoiding Life-Endangering and Reckless Texting by Drivers Act of 2009 or the ALERT Drivers Act - Requires the Secretary of Transportation to withhold 25% of a state's apportionment of certain federal-aid highway program funds for the fiscal year if the state has not enacted or is not enforcing a law that: (1) prohibits, except in an emergency, an operator of a motor vehicle from writing, sending, or reading a text message using a hand-held mobile telephone (excluding a vehicle-integrated, voice-activated device); and (2) requires, upon conviction of a violation of such prohibition, the imposition of certain minimum penalties.

 Related & companion bills 5
  • HR 3820 Text similarities Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Act of 2010
  • HR 3829 FOCUS Act of 2009
  • HR 4153 To amend title 23, United States Code, to establish national standards to prevent distracted driving, and for other pur…
  • HR 5097 Erica's Law
  • S 1536 ALERT Drivers Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 5
All 5 Democratic 3
Adler, John
· Dec 1, 2009
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Sep 29, 2009
Massa, Eric
· Sep 23, 2009
 D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Sep 16, 2009
 D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Sep 14, 2009
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3535: ALERT Drivers Act. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3535/
MLA
"H.R. 3535: ALERT Drivers Act." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3535/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3535, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3535/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3535: ALERT Drivers Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3535/)
Report a problem