Arkansas driving laws

“Arkansas law prohibits the use of a hand-held cell phone for texting, typing, emailing or accessing the internet while driving, regardless of the driver’s age.”

“It is also a “primary offense” law, which means a state trooper, police officer or sheriff’s deputy can initiate a traffic stop without observing any other violation.”

“Fines can range from up to $250 for a first offense and up to $500 for any subsequent offense.”

“Under eighteen (18) years of age cell phone use is not allowed. The use of hands-free devices is not allowed.”

“A Class D driver who is at least eighteen (18) but less than twenty-one (21) years of age may use a handsfree wireless telephone or device for interactive communication while driving.”

“A hand-held wireless telephone can only be used for emergencies. Text messages are not allowed regardless of age.”

““It is against Arkansas law to use a handheld device in a work zone,” said AHP Chief Jeff Holmes.”

“You will be arrested for driving while intoxicated with an alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more in the breath (grams/210 liters) or blood (grams/100 milliliters, the same as 0.08%).”

“You can be arrested for Underage Driving Under the Influence if your alcohol concentration is 0.02%breath or blood alcohol concentration.”

“It is illegal to operate a CMV if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .04% or more.”

“Suspension periods for DWI/BWI Refused To Test offenses are as follows: 1 st offense Refused To Test = 180-day suspension.”

“Suspension periods for DWI/BWI Alcohol offenses are as follows: 1 st offense = 6 months suspension.”

“Individual must have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle for a period equal to the driver’s license suspension time.”

“If you are found guilty of an alcohol violation and it is your first conviction, you will be fined from $150 to $1000, in addition to court costs. You could also be sentenced to one (1) year in jail”

“1 st offense Underage DUI/BUI/Refused to Test = 90-day suspension.”

“Beginning June 30, 2009, Arkansas’ seat belt law changed to permit a law enforcement traffic stop based on the primary violation of a motor vehicle driver or the front-seat passenger”

“In Arkansas, the adult seat belt law requires drivers and front-seat passengers to wear seat belts at all times, and violations are punishable by a fine of up to $45 (which includes a $25 state fine and any applicable local fines).”

“The child passenger protection law requires all children under 15 years of age to be in a seat belt or car seat regardless of seating position and violations are punishable by a fine not to exceed $100.”

“A child who is less than six (6) years of age and who weighs less than sixty (60) pounds shall be restrained in a child passenger safety seat properly secured to the vehicle.”

“All passengers riding in a motor vehicle with a driver who has an instruction permit must wear seat belts.”

“the Move Over Law requires drivers to move over not only for emergency vehicles but also for vehicles operated by the Arkansas Department of Transportation, utility vehicles, tow trucks, and other authorized vehicles displaying flashing, revolving, or rotating lights in blue, red, amber, white, or green.”

“they must move to the farthest lane or position away from the authorized vehicle. Drivers should remain in that lane or position until they have safely passed the authorized vehicle while exercising caution.”

“If changing lanes is unsafe or impossible, the driver should exercise caution and reduce their speed according to the conditions of the street, road, or highway where the authorized vehicle is stopped or parked.”

“Violators of Arkansas’s Move Over Law may face fines ranging from $250 to $1,000, possible jail time, and the potential loss of their driver’s license.”

“The law currently applies to emergency response vehicles, law enforcement vehicles, ARDOT vehicles, ARDOT contractor vehicles, utility company vehicles, and vehicles used in a towing operation.”

“No matter where your vehicle is positioned with the bus whether it’s in the same lane of traffic, the opposing lane, or at an intersection, YOU MUST MAKE A COMPLETE STOP!”

“The driver must never attempt to pass in any direction until the school bus has finished receiving or discharging its passengers and begins moving without its red lights flashing.”

“Drivers are not required to stop if the school bus is approaching along an opposite lane of travel separated by a median twenty (20) feet or more in width.”

“fined a minimum of $250, not to exceed $1,000, up to ninety (90) days in jail, and/or both.”

“Thirty miles per hour (30 m.p.h.) in any urban district;”

“controlled-access highway is seventy-five miles per hour (75 m.p.h.) if the”

“Has at least four (4) lanes that are divided by a”

“If a county judge has not established a speed limit on a county road within the jurisdictional boundaries of his or her county, then the speed limit shall be forty miles per hour (40 m.p.h.) on the county road.”

“injury to or death of any person or total property damage to an apparent”

“extent of one thousand dollars ($1,000) three thousand dollars ($3,000) or”

“more shall notify the nearest law enforcement agency immediately.”

“A Safety Responsibility SR-1 accident report must be submitted within thirty (30) days when damage to the property of any one person is in excess of $1,000.00 or results in the injury or death of any person regardless of who is at fault.”

“unless the vehicle is insured with the minimum amount of liability coverage: $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in any one accident; $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more persons in any one accident and $25,000 for damage to or destruction of the property of others.”

“The SR-21 must show limits of $25,000, $50,000, and $25,000, or state that the limits are at least equal to those required by State (Arkansas).”

“A universal helmet law is recognized as the single most effective way for states to save lives in motorcycle crashes, but Arkansas does not have a Helmet law for those over age 21.”