The Alabama Senate today passed a bill to prohibit racial profiling and to require police, sheriffs and state law enforcement to keep new records of traffic stops.

The records would include the race of the driver and the officer and whether the stop resulted in an arrest, ticket, warning or search.

Law enforcement agencies would report the information to the attorney general's office. The attorney general could withhold funds from agencies that did not follow the law until they complete racial profiling training.

The AGs office would also compile the information gathered from throughout the state for a report to the Legislature.

Today was the third day of the legislative session and the first day that lawmakers could vote on bills. Because of the threatening weather, legislators cancelled committee meetings set for Wednesday and will return on Thursday.

The racial profiling bill's sponsor, Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, said he knows from experience that profiling is a problem. Smitherman, who is black, said he's been stopped by police for no apparent reason, including a couple of times within blocks of his own home and once with his grandchildren in the car.

Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Sheffield, questioned whether the problem was widespread enough to justify passing a new law and imposing new requirements on police.

Smitherman said it was widespread, and that anyone who's black and driving is subject to it.

"It happens on a daily basis," Smitherman said.

Smitherman agreed to delay a vote on his bill until he, Stutts and other senators could discuss possible amendments. Senators later agreed to an amendment by Stutts. It would require police departments to include information about officer injuries during traffic stops.

Stutts said he did not want to send a message of distrust in law enforcement, saying that the vast majority of police do their jobs the right way and protect the public.

The Senate added another amendment by Sen. Trip Pittman, R-Montrose, clarifying that the new reporting requirements for police would be limited to what is specifically listed in the bill.

The bill then passed by a vote of 27-0.

It moves to the House of Representatives.

The Senate approved an amendment by Stutts in honor of law enforcement after the bill passed.