Despite the fact that as a whole the state of Alabama has NOT followed what many other states are doing, and making it illegal to text while driving throughout the state, individual cities are passing laws banning texting while behind the wheel. Today, Huntsville announced that it is following the trend toward cracking down on distracted drivers.

Effective September 20, 2010, the city of Huntsville will become the sixth Alabama city to have an enforced ordinance making it illegal to send text messages or send email while driving within the city limits. Also prohibited while behind the wheel in Huntsville: watching videos, programming a sat-nav device, or browsing through music files.

The ban isn’t limited just to cell phones, but extends to smartphones, netbooks and laptops, electronic tablets, and e-readers, as well as GPS devices. NOT included in the ban are radios (including voice, mobile, commercial and two-way devices).

Huntsville joins Gadsden, Birmingham, Vestavia Hills, Jacksonville and Roanoke in imposing a texting ban.