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Committee approves allowing remote swearing and electronic affidavits for law enforcement
Summary
House Bill 518 would let officers swear affidavits remotely (by video) or be sworn by another authorized officer and requires the administering officer to record name/date/time; the committee adopted technical amendments and gave the bill a favorable report.
Mr. Brinard told the committee HB518 would modernize an antiquated procedure that currently requires officers to be sworn in person by a magistrate for many traffic and misdemeanor affidavits. "This would allow them to do it electronically, video like Zoom or whatever," he said, and the bill also permits in certain circumstances another law enforcement officer to administer the oath.
An amendment clarifies that sheriffs, deputies, constables or other authorized officials may administer oaths under specified subdivisions, requires notation of the administering officer's name and the date and time, and ties the affidavit process to Chapter 7 of Title 15 of the Code of Alabama 1975. Committee members said the change will cut unnecessary overtime and streamline magistrate interaction.
The amendment was adopted, and the committee moved and approved a favorable report for HB518 as amended.
