Arkansas Legislator Looking to Toughen Up Teen Driving Laws

First posted on 10-17-2007

Young drivers in Arkansas may face tougher restrictions if a proposed bill makes it through the legislature.

Rep. Gene Shelby, D-Hot Springs, is planning to introduce a new bill during the 2009 regular session that aims to further strengthen the state’s graduated licensing system. Shelby said he is concerned that Arkansas continues to rank high among all states with respect to fatalities involving teens in car accidents.

The legislation Shelby plans to introduce will be almost identical to the one considered by the 2007 legislature. That bill passed the House but failed in the Senate.

Highlights of that measure included:

• Raising the learner’s permit age from 14 to 15.
• Prohibiting driving between the hours of 11pm and 5am for drivers under the age of 18
(with exceptions for work, school activities or emergencies).
• Limiting the number of minor aged passengers young drivers could have in their
vehicles.
• Use of cell phones while driving would have been discontinued for young drivers.
• Police could stop young drivers simply for failure to wear seatbelts.

Shelby said he plans to lobby his fellow legislators about the need for re-visiting the measure he hopes to pass next session.