Arkansas Traffic Laws: Points, Tickets, License Suspension and DUI
Arkansas driving rules: point system, speeding points, traffic school, how to pay or fight a ticket, license suspension, DUI limits and penalties.
Quick answers for Arkansas
- Point system
- Yes. Moving violations carry 3 to 8 points (a DWI conviction carries 14). Points count within a 36-month period. At 10–13 points a warning letter is sent. At 14 or more points a hearing is automatically scheduled; 27 CAR §§ 30-113, 30-117; DFA Driver Improvements page
- Points for speeding
- Up to 10 mph over the limit: 3 points; 11–20 mph over: 4 points; 21–30 mph over: 5 points; 31 mph or more over: 8 points. 27 CAR § 30-113(a)(7)
- Legal BAC limit
- 0.08% for drivers generally; 0.04% for drivers in a commercial vehicle; underage DUI applies at 0.02% to 0.079% for drivers under 21. Ark. Code §§ 5-65-103, 5-65-303; DFA DUI/DWI Administrative Hearing page
- First-offense DUI penalties
- The Office of Driver Services suspends the license for 6 months for a first DWI (alcohol) offense, and reinstatement requires an ignition interlock for a period equal to the suspension, an alcohol education or treatment program, a Victim Impact Panel and a $150 fee. Ark. Code §§ 5-65-104, 5-65-111; DFA DUI, DWI, BUI, BWI Offenses page; Arkansas Driver License Study Guide (July 2026)
Last verified: 2026-10-27
Tickets and points
| Point system | Yes. Moving violations carry 3 to 8 points (a DWI conviction carries 14). Points count within a 36-month period. At 10–13 points a warning letter is sent. At 14 or more points a hearing is automatically scheduled; a hearing officer may impose probation or suspension, and a driver who skips the hearing is suspended automatically. Maximum suspensions: up to 3 months for 14–17 points, up to 6 months for 18–23 points, and up to 1 year for 24 or more points. |
|---|---|
| Points for speeding | Up to 10 mph over the limit: 3 points; 11–20 mph over: 4 points; 21–30 mph over: 5 points; 31 mph or more over: 8 points. Source: 27 CAR § 30-113(a)(7) |
| How long points last | Points are assessed for convictions within a 36-month period measured from the date a hearing is scheduled to discuss the driver's accumulated convictions. How long convictions remain on the driving record itself was not confirmed from an official page read for this record. Source: 27 CAR § 30-113(a) |
| Paying or fighting a ticket | Tickets are handled by the court in the county where the ticket was issued. Participating courts accept online payment at pay.arcourts.gov; some offenses, such as DWI, require a court appearance and cannot be paid online. Paying the full amount online waives appearance and trial and is accepted as a plea of guilty or no contest. If you do not pay before the court date and do not appear, the court may issue a failure-to-appear warrant, the driver's license will be suspended, and additional fines and costs apply. To contest a ticket, contact the court listed on the citation. |
| Paying or looking up a ticket online | Pay traffic citations online at the Arkansas Online Court Payment site (pay.arcourts.gov) if the citation is payable to a participating district court: choose the court, enter your name plus the citation number or driver's license/State ID number and date of birth, and pay the full amount plus an online service charge by Visa, Discover or MasterCard. Paying the full amount waives your appearance and trial and is treated as a guilty or no-contest plea. Not paying and not appearing can lead to a failure-to-appear warrant, license suspension, and extra fines and costs. A payment plan option is available on the site. |
License suspension
| License suspension | Suspensions include point suspensions after a hearing, failure to appear or pay on a citation, DWI and test refusal, and underage alcohol offenses (for example, 60 days for a first minor-in-possession or ID-misrepresentation offense). Reinstatement after a DWI requires an alcohol education or treatment program, a Victim Impact Panel, an ignition interlock for a period equal to the suspension, and a $150 fee; a revoked license requires passing the full driver's license exam. |
|---|---|
| Hardship or restricted license | After a DWI arrest, a driver can request an uncontested hearing with Driver Control to determine eligibility for an interlock restricted license or a restricted driving permit, depending on the offense. A restricted driving permit may also be available for underage alcohol (MIP/ID) suspensions, as decided by a hearing officer. |
| Checking and reinstating a license | The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), Office of Driver Services, offers online services to request a Clearance or Record of License Status Letter showing your current driving privileges, to pay a driver's license reinstatement fee online, and to request a Reinstatement Letter confirming you have met the requirements to reinstate after a suspension or revocation. Status letter: https://airsdsmvpub.dfa.arkansas.gov/mydmv/?link=LicenseStatus ; fee payment: https://ark.org/dfa/reinstatement/index.php |
DUI / DWI
| Legal BAC limit | 0.08% for drivers generally; 0.04% for drivers in a commercial vehicle; underage DUI applies at 0.02% to 0.079% for drivers under 21. |
|---|---|
| First-offense DUI penalties | The Office of Driver Services suspends the license for 6 months for a first DWI (alcohol) offense, and reinstatement requires an ignition interlock for a period equal to the suspension, an alcohol education or treatment program, a Victim Impact Panel and a $150 fee. The state driver license study guide says a first conviction carries a fine of $150 to $1,000 plus court costs and possible jail of up to one year. The study guide also mentions a 120-day suspension; the DFA administrative page lists 6 months. The minimum jail term was not confirmed from the statute itself. |
| When a DUI is a felony | A fourth DWI within 10 years of the first offense is an unclassified felony (1 to 6 years in prison, or 2 to 6 years if a passenger under 16 was in the vehicle). A fifth or later DWI within 10 years is an unclassified felony with 2 to 10 years (3 to 10 with a passenger under 16). A sixth or later DWI within 20 years of the first offense is a Class B felony. First through third offenses are misdemeanors, with longer minimum jail terms when a passenger under 16 was in the vehicle. Out-of-state DWI convictions count as prior offenses. Arkansas does not publish a free official code site. Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 5-65-111 |
| Refusing a breath test | A driver who refuses an alcohol or drug test faces an administrative suspension: 180 days for a first refusal, 24 months for a second within 5 years, a 3-year revocation for a third within 5 years, and lifetime revocation for a fourth within 5 years. Reinstatement requires a Victim Impact Panel and a $150 fee. A driver may request an administrative hearing within 7 calendar days of arrest and may drive for 30 days on the driver's license receipt if the license was valid. |
| DUI lookback period | 5 years. Longer administrative suspensions apply for a second, third or fourth DWI or refusal within a 5-year span (DWI: 24 months, 30 months, and a 4-year revocation). For a second or later alcohol or drug offense within 5 years, vehicle registrations owned by the driver are also suspended. |
| How long a DUI stays on your record | How long a DWI stays on the driving record is not stated on the official pages read. For the criminal record, Arkansas lets people petition to seal convictions, but a DWI (misdemeanor or felony) cannot be sealed until the DWI lookback periods have passed (10 years, or 20 years for the sixth-offense rule). For a misdemeanor, the person must also have finished the sentence, paid court costs and completed all driver's license reinstatement requirements. A person who held a commercial driver license or learner's permit when committing a traffic offense cannot seal that offense. |
| Sobriety checkpoints | Yes, they are used. Arkansas State Police releases for holiday impaired-driving campaigns have announced additional sobriety checkpoints across the state. No Arkansas statute that authorizes or bans sobriety checkpoints was found. |
Phones and distracted driving
| Phone and texting laws | Texting while driving is prohibited at every age. Drivers under 18 may not use a cell phone, including hands-free, except in an emergency. Drivers 18 to 20 may use a hands-free device; a hand-held phone only in an emergency. The state study guide says drivers 21 and older may use a cell phone. Restrictions in school or highway work zones were not confirmed from an official page read for this record. |
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Where to get help in Arkansas
Traffic Tickets & DUI FAQ
How does the driver point system work in Arkansas?
Yes. Moving violations carry 3 to 8 points (a DWI conviction carries 14). Points count within a 36-month period. At 10–13 points a warning letter is sent. At 14 or more points a hearing is automatically scheduled; a hearing officer may impose probation or suspension, and a driver who skips the hearing is suspended automatically. Maximum suspensions: up to 3 months for 14–17 points, up to 6 months for 18–23 points, and up to 1 year for 24 or more points.
How many points is a speeding ticket in Arkansas?
Up to 10 mph over the limit: 3 points; 11–20 mph over: 4 points; 21–30 mph over: 5 points; 31 mph or more over: 8 points.
How long do points stay on your license in Arkansas?
Points are assessed for convictions within a 36-month period measured from the date a hearing is scheduled to discuss the driver's accumulated convictions.
How do I pay or look up a traffic ticket online in Arkansas?
Pay traffic citations online at the Arkansas Online Court Payment site (pay.arcourts.gov) if the citation is payable to a participating district court: choose the court, enter your name plus the citation number or driver's license/State ID number and date of birth, and pay the full amount plus an online service charge by Visa, Discover or MasterCard. Paying the full amount waives your appearance and trial and is treated as a guilty or no-contest plea. Not paying and not appearing can lead to a failure-to-appear warrant, license suspension, and extra fines and costs. A payment plan option is available on the site.
How do I check if my license is suspended and get it reinstated in Arkansas?
The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), Office of Driver Services, offers online services to request a Clearance or Record of License Status Letter showing your current driving privileges, to pay a driver's license reinstatement fee online, and to request a Reinstatement Letter confirming you have met the requirements to reinstate after a suspension or revocation.
How do you pay or contest a traffic ticket in Arkansas?
Tickets are handled by the court in the county where the ticket was issued. Participating courts accept online payment at pay.arcourts.gov; some offenses, such as DWI, require a court appearance and cannot be paid online. Paying the full amount online waives appearance and trial and is accepted as a plea of guilty or no contest. If you do not pay before the court date and do not appear, the court may issue a failure-to-appear warrant, the driver's license will be suspended, and additional fines and costs apply. To contest a ticket, contact the court listed on the citation.
What gets your license suspended in Arkansas?
Suspensions include point suspensions after a hearing, failure to appear or pay on a citation, DWI and test refusal, and underage alcohol offenses (for example, 60 days for a first minor-in-possession or ID-misrepresentation offense). Reinstatement after a DWI requires an alcohol education or treatment program, a Victim Impact Panel, an ignition interlock for a period equal to the suspension, and a $150 fee; a revoked license requires passing the full driver's license exam.
What is the legal blood alcohol limit in Arkansas?
0.08% for drivers generally; 0.04% for drivers in a commercial vehicle; underage DUI applies at 0.02% to 0.079% for drivers under 21.
What is the penalty for a first DUI in Arkansas?
The Office of Driver Services suspends the license for 6 months for a first DWI (alcohol) offense, and reinstatement requires an ignition interlock for a period equal to the suspension, an alcohol education or treatment program, a Victim Impact Panel and a $150 fee. The state driver license study guide says a first conviction carries a fine of $150 to $1,000 plus court costs and possible jail of up to one year.
What happens if you refuse a breathalyzer in Arkansas?
A driver who refuses an alcohol or drug test faces an administrative suspension: 180 days for a first refusal, 24 months for a second within 5 years, a 3-year revocation for a third within 5 years, and lifetime revocation for a fourth within 5 years. Reinstatement requires a Victim Impact Panel and a $150 fee. A driver may request an administrative hearing within 7 calendar days of arrest and may drive for 30 days on the driver's license receipt if the license was valid.
How long does a DUI count as a prior offense in Arkansas?
5 years. Longer administrative suspensions apply for a second, third or fourth DWI or refusal within a 5-year span (DWI: 24 months, 30 months, and a 4-year revocation). For a second or later alcohol or drug offense within 5 years, vehicle registrations owned by the driver are also suspended.
Can you get a hardship license in Arkansas?
After a DWI arrest, a driver can request an uncontested hearing with Driver Control to determine eligibility for an interlock restricted license or a restricted driving permit, depending on the offense. A restricted driving permit may also be available for underage alcohol (MIP/ID) suspensions, as decided by a hearing officer.
Is it illegal to hold your phone while driving in Arkansas?
Texting while driving is prohibited at every age. Drivers under 18 may not use a cell phone, including hands-free, except in an emergency. Drivers 18 to 20 may use a hands-free device; a hand-held phone only in an emergency. The state study guide says drivers 21 and older may use a cell phone.
Is a DUI a felony in Arkansas?
A fourth DWI within 10 years of the first offense is an unclassified felony (1 to 6 years in prison, or 2 to 6 years if a passenger under 16 was in the vehicle). A fifth or later DWI within 10 years is an unclassified felony with 2 to 10 years (3 to 10 with a passenger under 16). A sixth or later DWI within 20 years of the first offense is a Class B felony. First through third offenses are misdemeanors, with longer minimum jail terms when a passenger under 16 was in the vehicle. Out-of-state DWI convictions count as prior offenses.
How long does a DUI stay on your record in Arkansas?
How long a DWI stays on the driving record is not stated on the official pages read. For the criminal record, Arkansas lets people petition to seal convictions, but a DWI (misdemeanor or felony) cannot be sealed until the DWI lookback periods have passed (10 years, or 20 years for the sixth-offense rule). For a misdemeanor, the person must also have finished the sentence, paid court costs and completed all driver's license reinstatement requirements. A person who held a commercial driver license or learner's permit when committing a traffic offense cannot seal that offense.
Are DUI checkpoints legal in Arkansas?
Yes, they are used. Arkansas State Police releases for holiday impaired-driving campaigns have announced additional sobriety checkpoints across the state.
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.