Traffic laws now in effect
During the 2025 Arkansas Legislative Session, several laws passed that Arkansas travelers should know. These laws went into effect Tuesday, according the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
House Bill (HB) 1596, now Act 327 of 2025, doubles fines for moving traffic violations in mobile work zones. Previously, traffic fines were only doubled in static (or stationary) work zones.
This new law applies to all “construction personnel,” which includes ARDOT and its contractors as well as city and county road departments and their contractors.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
A static “highway work zone” is defined as any area upon a highway or road in Arkansas where construction, maintenance, or any other type of work is begin performed or is in progress by employees of ARDOT, cities, counties or contractors.
A “mobile work zone” is defined as any area upon a highway or road in Arkansas where construction, maintenance, or any other type of work is being performed for a limited period of time by employees of ARDOT, cities, counties or contractors. Mobile work zones can include debris removal, road striping, pothole patching, etc. Mobile work zones must be marked by a sign, channelizing device, barrier or work vehicle with lights.
To help drivers know when they are entering a mobile work zone, “mobile work zone/fines double” signs will be displayed on the back of ARDOT work trucks with lights. Both mobile and static work zones are required to notify drivers that they are in a work zone and that fines are doubled.
HB1475, now Act 209 of 2025, authorizes the use of green lights on official roadway construction and maintenance vehicles used by ARDOT, cities, counties, or contractors. This came after a successful pilot program.
Flashing green lights improve visibility on bright, sunny days, in fog, and during inclement weather, making road workers safer.
Arkansas law specifies which types of vehicles may have flashing lights or rotating beacons and what colors are permissible. This new law permits roadway construction and maintenance vehicles to use amber, white, or green (or any combination of the three) oscillating, flashing, or rotating emergency or warning lights.
Senate Bill (SB) 78, now Act 117 of 2025, amends the Arkansas driver’s manual and test to include information about driving safely through work zones.
The safe operation of a motor vehicle in a highway work zone is now required to be included in the written driver’s license test.
Additionally, the driver’s instruction manual will be amended to include information about highway work zone safety.
This information will include:
The effects and hazards of unsafe driving through a highway work zone.
The penalties for violations for unsafe driving through a highway work zone.
Statistics concerning the dangers of committing a moving violation in a highway work zone.
Testimonials from highway construction workers and their families.
Information on the importance of awareness and slowing down in a highway work zone.
A question-and-answer section concerning the safe operation of a motor vehicle in a highway work zone. Details: arkleg.state.ar.us.
ASP: Keep kids safe online
As the summer draws to a close and students across Arkansas prepare to return to the classroom, Arkansas State Police (ASP) reminds parents, guardians, and educators to remain vigilant in protecting children from online predators.
Since January 2024, ASP has issued 10 Amber Alerts and 27 Missing/Endangered Advisories for missing children and teens, several of whom were lured away by individuals they met through online messaging apps, according to a news release.
Two of these Amber Alerts and 13 of the Missing/Endangered Advisories were issued in this year alone. The Arkansas AMBER Alert System, coordinated by ASP, works closely with local law enforcement agencies to issue statewide alerts when a child is abducted and in imminent danger. These incidents underscore the increasing threat predators pose by taking advantage of children and teenagers who spend time online.
ASP offers the following recommendations to keep children safe online:
Talk to children and teens about the dangers of interacting with strangers online.
Monitor and educate them about not sharing personal or explicit information over messaging apps or social media.
Access free resources and tools for preventing child exploitation through the Arkansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ARICAC) at aricac.org.
Schools and community groups can request online safety presentations through the ARICAC website.
Report any suspicious online activity or suspected exploitation to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
For more information or to request an online safety presentation, visit aricac.org.