Alabama police seek new tool in war on drugs: Wiretapping Updated Feb 04, 2021; Alabama lawmakers today will begin debate on a bill to create a wiretapping program for state and local law enforcement to secretly monitor and record people suspected of felony drug crimes, ranging from marijuana possession to dealing heroin. House Bill 17 would create a new program for local police in Alabama to tap someone’s calls and online communications without involving federal law enforcement. That’s if a local judge finds probable cause to believe the person “is committing, has committed, or is about to commit certain felony drug offenses.”