In 2012, there were 9226 people arrested for violating driving while intoxicated laws in Arkansas. To keep the roads safe, law enforcement will penalize anyone with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08, but the state also runs campaigns to let people know that ‘Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving’ and you can and will be arrested even if your BAC doesn’t reach .08.

As with other states, young drinking drivers in Arkansas are not exempt from DWI laws. Anyone in Arkansas caught drinking under the legal drinking age of 21 or with a .02 BAC level can convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI). And if you’re stopped and you refuse a blood alcohol test, you’ll be subject to an immediate license suspension.

A first driving while intoxicated conviction in Arkansas will result in the following penalties:

6 months driver’s license suspension
Jail time between one day and one year
Fines ranging from $150 to $1000
Completion of an adult education program
If you are driving with a passenger under the age of 16 in the vehicle, you’ll receive a 7 day to 1 year jail sentence
The possibility of an ignition interlock installation

If you receive a second driving while intoxicated conviction in Arkansas within 5 years of your first, the following penalties will apply:

Up to two year’s driver’s license suspension
Jail time ranging from 7 days up to 1 year
Fines ranging from $400 to $3000
The possibility of an ignition interlock installation
Completion of an Alcohol Education program
If you have a passenger under the age of 16 with you, you can receive 30 days up to 1 year in jail

Strict driving while intoxicated laws are put into place to ensure that drivers think twice before driving after drinking. Especially in Arkansas, where drivers with blood alcohol levels of over .15 caused almost 70% of alcohol-related driving fatalities, it’s time to put the brakes on drinking and driving.

About Matt Talley