What statute defines DWI in Arkansas?

Ark. Code Ann. § 5-65-103 is the controlling DWI statute in Arkansas. You can read the current text on the official code site at law.justia.com.

What is the Arkansas implied-consent law?

Ark. Code Ann. § 5-65-202 is the implied-consent provision. It sets out the consequences of refusing a chemical test after a lawful DWI arrest.

Arkansas DUI Statutes: The Code Sections That Control Your Case

The statutes that control Arkansas DWI cases

DWI in Arkansas is defined by Ark. Code Ann. § 5-65-103, and the chemical-testing rules sit in Ark. Code Ann. § 5-65-202. Both are published in the official state code at law.justia.com, which is the only version that governs — summaries elsewhere, including ours, can lag amendments.

Arkansas official code — DWI statute

Statutory text, definitions, BAC thresholds and sentencing ranges.

Implied-consent provision

What refusing a breath, blood or urine test costs you.

Statute at a glance

Arkansas DWI law at a glance

Sourced from the Arkansas code and state agency sites. Verify current text before relying on it.

Offense name: DWI (Arkansas)
Controlling statute: Ark. Code Ann. § 5-65-103
Implied consent: Ark. Code Ann. § 5-65-202
Per se BAC limit: 0.08 (0.04 CDL, 0.02 or lower under 21)
Licence hearing deadline: 7 days after arrest
Prior-offense lookback: 5 years
First-offense fine: $150–$1,000
First-offense jail exposure: up to 1 year
Licence suspension: 6 months
Ignition interlock: Required on a first offense in most cases
Trial court: the District Court
High-risk filing: SR-22 for 3 years

A first offense is a misdemeanor with a fine, possible jail, and license suspension.

First-offense exposure under Ark. Code Ann. § 5-65-103: $150–$1,000, up to 1 year of jail exposure, and a 6 months licence suspension. A first offense is a misdemeanor with a fine, possible jail, and license suspension.

What Ark. Code Ann. § 5-65-103 actually says

Ark. Code § 5-65-103(a)(1) — unlawful for an intoxicated person to operate or be in actual physical control of a motor vehicle.
Ark. Code § 5-65-103(a)(2) — unlawful to operate or be in actual physical control of a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more.
Ark. Code § 5-65-103 is mirrored by parallel provisions covering boating while intoxicated.

Charging documents cite the exact subsection, so check which one appears on your citation. The posted text on law.justia.com carries an effective date — amendments passed after it are not yet reflected.

Other Arkansas sections that control the case

Ark. Code § 5-65-104

Seizure and suspension of the licence, and the interlock restricted licence.

Ark. Code § 5-65-202

Implied consent to chemical testing.

Arkansas ZIP codes covered

These Arkansas ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.

Counties and cities using these Arkansas resources

Other Arkansas official resources

Arkansas DUI Courts: Where Your Case Is Heard Arkansas Driver Licensing After a DUI: Hearings, Reinstatement & SR-22

Frequently asked questions

What statute defines DWI in Arkansas?: Ark. Code Ann. § 5-65-103 is the controlling DWI statute in Arkansas. You can read the current text on the official code site at law.justia.com.
What is the Arkansas implied-consent law?: Ark. Code Ann. § 5-65-202 is the implied-consent provision. It sets out the consequences of refusing a chemical test after a lawful DWI arrest.