An act TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE SUSPENSION OR 10 REVOCATION OF A PERSON'S DRIVER'S LICENSE FOR FAILURE 11 TO PAY A COURT-ORDERED FINE, the official text

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.

1 State of Arkansas                  A Bill
2 95th General Assembly

3 Regular Session, 2025                                            HOUSE BILL 1284

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5 By: Representative Unger

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8                           For An Act To Be Entitled

9   AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE SUSPENSION OR

10  REVOCATION OF A PERSON'S DRIVER'S LICENSE FOR FAILURE

11  TO PAY A COURT-ORDERED FINE; TO AMEND THE LAW

12  CONCERNING A RESTRICTED DRIVER'S PERMIT; AND FOR

13  OTHER PURPOSES.

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15

16                                   Subtitle

17                       TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE

18                       SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF A PERSON'S

19                       DRIVER'S LICENSE FOR FAILURE TO PAY A

20                       COURT-ORDERED FINE; AND TO AMEND THE LAW

21                       CONCERNING A RESTRICTED DRIVER'S PERMIT.

22

23 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:

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25  SECTION 1. Arkansas Code � 16-13-708 is amended to read as follows:

26  16-13-708. Revocation of registration or license prohibited.

27  (a)(1) A court may shall not request in writing and under

28 certification that the Department of Finance and Administration revoke,

29 suspend, or refuse to renew the motor vehicle registration or driver's

30 license of a person who has failed to make satisfactory arrangements for the

31 payment of a court-ordered fine.

32  (2) However, the court shall not make a request to the

33 department as described under subdivision (a)(1) of this section before the

34 court has scheduled a hearing to address the person's nonpayment of the

35 court-ordered fine and the person has failed to appear at the hearing.

36  (3) The court may issue an order for a restricted driving permit

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1 in accordance with � 27-16-916.

2   (b) For driver's license revocation, suspension, or nonrenewal, the

3 court must provide the department with the reason for the revocation,

4 suspension, or nonrenewal, the amount the person owes the court, and the

5 person's full name, date of birth, and last known address.

6   (c) For motor vehicle registration revocation, suspension, or

7 nonrenewal, the court must provide the department with the reason for the

8 revocation, suspension, or nonrenewal, the amount the person owes the court,

9 and the person's full name and the license plate number or vehicle

10 identification number of the person's vehicle.

11  (d)(1) An acquittal or a dismissal of a charge of failure to pay a

12 fine or failure to appear at a hearing to address nonpayment of a fine that

13 is used as the basis to revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew the person's

14 driver's license or motor vehicle registration shall reverse the revocation

15 of, suspension of, or refusal to renew the person's driver's license or motor

16 vehicle registration under this section.

17              (2) Upon an acquittal or dismissal of a charge as described in

18 subdivision (d)(1) of this section, the Office of Driver Services shall

19 reinstate the person's driver's license or motor vehicle registration without

20 charging a reinstatement fee, and the charge shall not be used to determine

21 the number of previous offenses when administratively revoking, suspending,

22 or refusing to renew the person's driver's license in the future.

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24  SECTION 2. Arkansas Code � 27-16-916(a), concerning driver's license

25 suspensions and the issuance of a restricted driver's license in certain

26 circumstances, is amended to read as follows:

27  (a) Unless a person is eligible for a restricted driver's license as

28 provided under this title, a district court may authorize a restricted

29 driving permit upon the suspension of a person's driver's license under � 16-

30 13-708 or � 16-17-131 and may permit a person whose driving privileges are

31 suspended to drive to and from the following:

32              (1) A mandatory court appearance;

33              (2) A program or place where a court has ordered the person's

34 presence or attendance;

35              (3) A place of employment or as required in the scope of

36 employment;

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1              (4) A scheduled session or meeting of a support or counseling

2 organization;

3              (5) An educational institution for the purpose of attending a

4 class if the person is enrolled in a course of study or program of training

5 at the educational institution;

6              (6) The educational institution or childcare facility of the

7 person's child or children;

8              (7) A treatment program for persons who have addiction or abuse

9 problems related to a substance or controlled substances;

10             (8) A doctor, hospital, or clinic appointment or admission for

11 medical treatment or care for an illness, disease, or other medical condition

12 of the person or a family member;

13             (9) A location for the enrollment, compliance, and participation

14 in a specialty court program if the person is accepted into a specialty court

15 program; and

16             (10) Any other location the court finds reasonable and

17 necessary.

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