Arkansas’s Cell Phone-Use & Texting-While-Driving Laws

Arkansas's distracted driving laws prohibit all motorists from text messaging while driving. The restrictions on using a cell phone while driving depend on the age of the driver and where the motorist is driving. This article goes through the specifics of what the laws prohibit and the costs and other consequences of a texting or cell phone ticket.

Arkansas's Distracted Driving (Texting and Cell Phones) Laws

Arkansas has distracted driving laws that apply to texting while driving and talking on a cell phone while driving.

Texting While Driving in Arkansas

In Arkansas, all motorists are prohibited from using a wireless communication device (such as a cell phone, tablet or similar device) while operating a vehicle to:

• engage in texting, or
• access, read, or post to a social media networking site.

"Texting" means reading from or manually entering data into a wireless communications device, including doing so for the purpose of SMS texting, emailing, instant messaging, or engaging in any other form of electronic data retrieval or electronic data communication. However, using a GPS system, music player, or any device in hands-free mode generally doesn't count as texting.

Exceptions to the Arkansas Texting Ban

Arkansas' texting band doesn't apply to:

• emergency services personnel communicating within the scope of their duties
• reporting illegal activity
• summoning medical or other emergency assistance, or
• communications made to prevent injury to a person or property.

As you might imagine, these exceptions don't come up very often.

Talking on the Phone While Driving in Arkansas

In Arkansas, the restrictions on talking on the phone while driving depend on the age of the driver.

Drivers 21 years and older. For most drivers, talking on a phone while driving is lawful except when driving through a school zone or highway work zone while workers are present. In these restricted zones, talking on a phone is permitted only with hands-free technology.

Drivers under 18 years old. Arkansas drivers who are under 18 years old are entirely prohibited from using a cell phone while driving regardless of whether the phone is in hands-free mode. The only exception is for emergency purposes.

Drivers 18 to 21 years old. Motorists who are at least 18 but not yet 21 years old can't use a handheld phone while driving but are allowed to talk on the phone using hands-free technology. These drivers are permitted to use a handheld phone only during an emergency.

Penalties for Cell Phone and Texting Tickets in Arkansas

Cell phone and texting violations carry fines of $25 to $250 for a first offense and $50 to $500 for a second or subsequent offense. Fines are doubled for violations that involve collisions. However, a cell phone or texting violation won't add demerit points to the motorist's driving record.