Legal Consequences For Drunk Driving In Arkansas

Legal Consequences For Drunk Driving In Arkansas

Meaghan Kleine Blog

If you’re over the age of 21, New Year’s Eve is typically celebrated by indulging in alcohol to forget the old and welcome the new. But some party-goers drink a bit too much, leaving them unfit to drive. 

 

Holiday season or not, alcohol can make people feel overly confident — a dangerous combination when an intoxicated person believes they are sober enough to drive. That’s why law enforcement officers patrol frequently around bars and restaurants, to catch people attempting to drive before anyone gets seriously hurt. 

 

In 2023, 830 Arkansas residents were issued driving while intoxicated citations. However, each incident received different legal consequences depending upon the number of offenses, damage incurred, and severity of the crime. 

What’s The Legal Limit In Arkansas?

In Arkansas, driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or above is illegal. If you’re curious how many drinks it takes to get to .08, it’s dependent upon your body. For the majority of people, 3 to 4 drinks will put them over .08 BAC.

However, you should not rely on the amount of drinks alone to guess your BAC. Your height and weight will impact the effect alcohol has on your body, so something as minor as the food you ate prior to drinking will change your BAC slightly. 

 

 

By making the choice to drive, you have given “implied consent” to any testing required by law enforcement officers. Therefore, if you are pulled over for suspected drunk driving, the law states you’ve already consented to their sobriety testing. 

 

You can refuse a breathalyzer test, however, you will face additional consequences like automatic license suspension and legal charges for refusal to submit a chemical test. 

Arkansas Penalties For Driving Under The Influence

One DWI charge can lead to serious consequences, including the possibility of jail time. In Arkansas, the more times a resident is caught driving while intoxicated, the harsher the misdemeanor penalties become: 

 

  • First Offense

    • License Suspension: 6 months

    • Jail Sentence: up to 1 year

    • Fines: $150 to $1,000

  • Second Offense

    • License Suspension: 24 months (2 years)

    • Jail Sentence: 7 days to 1 year

    • Fines: $400 to $3,000

  • Third Offense

    • License Suspension: 30 months

    • Jail Sentence: 90 days to 1 year

    • Fines: $900 to $5,000

 

 

If an individual is found driving while intoxicated in a five year period after three offenses, the subsequent legal charges become felonies: 

 

  • Fourth Offense

    • License Suspension: 4 years

    • Jail Sentence: 1 to 6 years 

    • Fines: $900 to $5,000

 

Did you notice that the penalties for DWI vary, meaning two first-time offenders can receive different consequences? Every single person has to explain their behavior to a judge, which will ultimately impact the final court ruling. 

Facing DWI Charges In Court? Find A Defense Attorney Today

A defense attorney’s role is to help you defend yourself, so that you may forget this awful ordeal and continue living life. Everyone makes mistakes, but if you don’t properly represent yourself in court, one drunken decision could result in job loss, jail time, and severe financial burden. 

 

The legal professionals of Hickey & Hull want to help Arkansas residents who have found themselves facing legal charges for driving while intoxicated. If you are looking for a defense attorney, contact (479) 434-2414 and schedule an initial consultation.

In 2026, things are about to get better with Hickey & Hull fighting for you!