Arkansas Reckless Driving Laws: Penalties, Points and Speed (2026)

Arkansas makes reckless driving a crime under Ark. Code 27-50-308: a person who "drives any vehicle in such a manner as to indicate a wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving." Section 27-50-302(a)(2) labels it a Class B misdemeanor, but Section 27-50-308(b) sets its own penalties, from 5 to 90 days in jail, a $25 to $500 fine, or both for a first offense without injury, up to as much as one year in jail for a repeat offense within three years that involves physical injury.

Information last verified on 2026-10-25. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers Arkansas state statutes on reckless driving (Ark. Code 27-50-308), careless and prohibited driving, speed, racing, fleeing by vehicle, the related license consequences, and driving without a valid license. It does not cover DWI penalties (see Arkansas DUI laws), homicide offenses (see Arkansas manslaughter laws), leaving the scene of a crash (see Arkansas hit-and-run laws), city or county ordinances, or federal and commercial-driver rules beyond a short note. For other states, see reckless driving laws by state.

What is reckless driving in Arkansas?

Arkansas defines reckless driving in one sentence. Ark. Code 27-50-308(a) provides:

"(a) Any person who drives any vehicle in such a manner as to indicate a wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving." Ark. Code 27-50-308(a)

The offense has two parts: driving a vehicle, and doing it in a manner that shows wanton disregard for the safety of people or property. The section lists no specific acts and names no speed, so each case turns on how the person drove.

Where the reckless driving law applies

Most Arkansas traffic rules apply only on highways. Reckless driving is an exception. Ark. Code 27-49-102(2) provides that "The provisions of 27-50-307, 27-50-308, 27-53-101 - 27-53-105, and 27-53-201 - 27-53-208 shall apply upon highways and elsewhere throughout the state." The reckless driving section can therefore reach driving in places such as parking lots and private property, not only on public roads.

Is reckless driving a misdemeanor in Arkansas? Penalties

Yes. Ark. Code 27-50-302(a) lists traffic offenses and their classes, and subdivision (a)(2) reads "Reckless driving - Class B misdemeanor." The punishment, though, comes from the reckless driving section itself. Section 27-50-308(b) sets four tiers:

• First conviction, no injury: "imprisonment for a period of not less than five (5) days nor more than ninety (90) days or a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), or by both such fine and imprisonment" (27-50-308(b)(1)(B)).
• First conviction, physical injury results: 30 to 90 days in jail, a fine of $100 to $1,000, or both (27-50-308(b)(1)(A)).
• Second or later offense within three years of the first: 30 days to six months in jail, a fine of $500 to $1,000, or both (27-50-308(b)(2)(A)).
• Second or later offense involving physical injury: 60 days to one year in jail, a fine of $500 to $1,000, or both (27-50-308(b)(2)(B)).

Those repeat-offense jail ranges run longer than the general cap for a Class B misdemeanor. Ark. Code 5-4-401(b)(2) provides that "For a Class B misdemeanor, the sentence shall not exceed ninety (90) days," while 27-50-308(b)(2) allows up to six months, or one year with injury. The ranges above are the ones the reckless driving section itself states.

Two add-ons can apply on top of the sentence:

• Child passenger. Under Ark. Code 27-50-306(b)(1), "Unless the offense is otherwise addressed under 5-4-703," the sentencing court "shall assess an additional fine of five dollars ($5.00)" for reckless driving, or for speeding more than 20 mph over the posted limit, if the finder of fact determines the violation was committed while a person under 18 was a passenger in the vehicle.
• Work zones. Under Ark. Code 27-50-408, as amended by Act 327 of 2025, the trial judge "may assess" an additional fine equal to the fine imposed by law for a moving traffic violation committed in a highway work zone or mobile work zone while construction personnel were present, if the required warning signs were posted; its list of moving traffic violations includes "Racing on the highway" and "Reckless driving."

Passing a stopped school bus with reckless disregard

Arkansas also grades one driving offense by reckless conduct outside Section 27-50-308. Under Ark. Code 27-51-1004(d), a driver who fails to stop for a school bus as the section requires "while demonstrating a reckless disregard for the safety of the passengers of the school bus" is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. An ordinary violation of the school bus subchapter is a misdemeanor with a fine of $250 to $1,000, county jail of up to 90 days, or both (27-51-1001(a)).

How fast is reckless driving in Arkansas?

Section 27-50-308 names no speed. Reckless driving turns on wanton disregard for safety, not on a number over the limit.

Speed has its own rules:

• Reasonable and prudent speed. Ark. Code 27-51-201(a)(1) provides that "No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing."
• More than 15 mph over. Ark. Code 27-50-302(a)(7) classifies "Speeding in excess of fifteen miles per hour (15 m.p.h.) over the posted speed limit" as a Class C misdemeanor, which carries up to 30 days in jail (5-4-401(b)(3)) and a fine of up to $500 (5-4-201(b)(3)). That offense is speeding, not reckless driving.

The same classification section lists hazardous driving as a Class C misdemeanor (27-50-302(a)(4)) and makes more than three traffic violations in a twelve-month period a Class C misdemeanor (27-50-302(b)).

Reckless driving points and license suspension in Arkansas

Points. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) Driver Services violations and points schedule assigns 8 points to reckless driving, 8 to a speed contest or racing, 8 to fleeing or evading police, and 3 each to careless, negligent and inattentive driving. The DFA explains that "A point range of 3 - 8 points is assessed to all moving violations," that at "14 or more points, a hearing is automatically scheduled," and that "If the licensee fails to attend the hearing, the license is automatically suspended." The point values come from the agency's schedule rather than from a statute.

Mandatory revocation. Ark. Code 27-16-905 requires the Office of Driver Services to "forthwith revoke the license of any driver" on receiving a record of a final conviction for listed offenses. They include manslaughter or negligent homicide resulting from operating a motor vehicle, any felony in which a motor vehicle is used, failure to stop and render aid (see Arkansas hit-and-run laws), and "Conviction, or forfeiture of bail not vacated, upon three (3) charges of reckless driving committed within a period of twelve (12) months" (27-16-905(5)). After a revocation, Ark. Code 27-16-912 provides that, except as provided in 27-16-907(c)(2)(C), the Office of Driver Services shall not grant an application for a new license until one year after the revocation.

Discretionary suspension by the court. Under Ark. Code 27-50-306(a), after a conviction for any moving traffic violation, the sentencing court "may" consider the person's previous traffic record and suspend the license for up to one year, suspend it for up to one year while granting a conditional permit to drive, require attendance at a driver's training school, or require the person to retake the driver's test.

Discretionary suspension by Driver Services. Ark. Code 27-16-907 provides that the Office of Driver Services "may suspend the license of a driver for up to one (1) year" on a showing that the licensee is "an habitual violator of the traffic laws," and "may suspend the license of a driver for one (1) year" on a showing that the licensee "Is an habitually reckless or negligent driver of a motor vehicle."

Young drivers. Ark. Code 27-16-804 provides that a learner's license or an intermediate driver's license shall be issued only to an applicant who has remained free of a serious accident and conviction of a serious traffic violation for the previous six months, and the definitions section of the Office of Driver Services subchapter (27-16-401(5)(E)) lists reckless driving as a "serious traffic violation."

Commercial driver's licenses

Ark. Code 27-23-103(41) defines a "serious traffic violation" as a conviction, "when operating a commercial motor vehicle," of offenses that include excessive speeding of 15 mph or more above the posted limit and "Reckless driving as defined by state or local law or regulation." Under 27-23-112(c), a second conviction of any combination of serious traffic violations in a separate incident within three years disqualifies the driver from operating a commercial motor vehicle for 60 days, and a third or later for 120 days. Federal rule 49 C.F.R. 383.51 (Table 2) also counts a reckless driving conviction in a personal vehicle toward those 60-day and 120-day disqualifications when the conviction results in a revocation, cancellation or suspension of the CDL holder's license or non-commercial driving privileges; the reckless driving laws by state hub covers the federal layer.

Careless and prohibited driving in Arkansas

Arkansas's lower-tier offense is careless and prohibited driving. Ark. Code 27-51-104(a) makes it unlawful "to drive or operate any vehicle in such a careless manner as to evidence a failure to keep a proper lookout for other traffic, vehicular or otherwise, or in such a manner as to evidence a failure to maintain proper control on the public thoroughfares or private property in the State of Arkansas."

Subsection (b) adds a list of specific acts. They include "Driving in such a manner or at such a speed so as to cause a skidding, spinning, or sliding of tires or a sliding of the vehicle" (27-51-104(b)(3)) and operating a vehicle "in any manner when the driver is inattentive and such inattention is not reasonable and prudent in maintaining vehicular control" (27-51-104(b)(8)).

The difference from reckless driving is the mental state: careless driving rests on a failure to keep a lookout or keep control, while reckless driving requires wanton disregard for safety. The penalty is much lower. Section 27-51-104(c) provides that a violator "shall be subject to a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100)," and the DFA schedule assigns careless driving 3 points.

Street racing and burnouts in Arkansas

Act 1061 of 2021 rewrote Arkansas's racing law, Ark. Code 27-50-309. Under the amended section, a person commits the crime of racing on a public highway if he or she knowingly:

• operates a motor vehicle in a race or drag race on a public highway while committing a violation of 27-50-302(a)(1)-(9);
• "Participates in, promotes, solicits, or collects moneys at any location for any race or drag race on a public highway"; or
• "Rides as a passenger in or on a motor vehicle in any race or drag race on a public highway."

Section 27-50-309(a) defines a "drag race" as two or more motor vehicles operated from a point side by side "at accelerating speeds in a competitive attempt to outdistance each other," and a "race" as one or more vehicles "traveling with excessive or at dangerous speeds" in an attempt to outgain or outdistance another vehicle, arrive at a destination ahead of another vehicle, or test drivers' stamina or endurance over long-distance routes. A "public highway" includes any paved or unpaved roadway owned or maintained by a public entity or municipality.

The grades run:

• First offense: Class A misdemeanor (27-50-309(b)(2)(A)).
• Subsequent offense within five years of a prior offense: Class A misdemeanor that "Shall result upon conviction in the suspension of the person's driver's license for a period of six (6) months" (27-50-309(b)(2)(B)).
• Felony racing: a Class D felony when the racing "serves to impede or stop the flow of traffic traveling on the public highway in the same or opposite direction" or "Is part of a gathering of ten (10) or more individuals engaging in the same or similar behavior" (27-50-309(c)).
• Spectators: Under 27-50-309(d), a person who, with the purpose to observe a drag race on a public highway, is knowingly present at and purposely observes the race or its preparation, and purposely demonstrates "through active encouragement, assistance, facilitation, urging, or a request that the drag race commence," commits observing a drag race as a spectator, a Class B misdemeanor (27-50-309(d)(2); 27-50-302(a)(9)).

Impoundment. Act 714 of 2023 added 27-50-309(e). A vehicle operated in a race or drag race "may be impounded at a law enforcement officer's discretion" when the officer cites the operator for a subsequent offense under (b)(1)(A) or (c)(1) committed within five years of a prior offense. The impoundment is at the registered owner's expense, and the owner, operator or person in charge of the vehicle may contest it and must be given notice of that right at the time of impoundment.

Arkansas's traffic code has no separate street-takeover, stunt-driving or aggressive-driving offense. Racing and speed contests fall under 27-50-309, and tire-spinning or sliding is one of the listed acts of careless and prohibited driving in 27-51-104(b)(3).

Fleeing police in a vehicle

Fleeing by vehicle is graded far above reckless driving. As amended by Act 722 of 2021, Act 734 of 2023 and Act 822 of 2025, Ark. Code 5-54-125(d) provides:

• Class A misdemeanor: fleeing "by means of any vehicle or conveyance," with a minimum of two days in jail, and a minimum of 30 days for a person convicted under that subdivision who drove over the posted speed limit (5-54-125(d)(1)).
• Class D felony: if the person operated the vehicle "in excess of the posted speed limit" (5-54-125(d)(2)).
• Class C felony: if, "under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life," the person purposely operates the vehicle in a manner that "creates a substantial danger of death or serious physical injury to another person" (5-54-125(d)(3)).
• Class B felony: if serious physical injury to any person occurs as a direct result of the fleeing (5-54-125(d)(4)).
• One class higher for the three felony tiers if the person exited the vehicle while it was still moving and continued to flee on foot (5-54-125(d)(5), added in 2025).

Under 5-54-125(e), on a conviction under subsection (d) the court "shall instruct the Office of Driver Services of the Department of Finance and Administration to suspend or revoke the defendant's driver's license for at least six (6) months but not more than one (1) year."

Is there a wet reckless in Arkansas?

The reckless driving section and the DWI chapter contain no provision for an alcohol-related reckless driving plea. The reckless driving section says nothing about alcohol, and Ark. Code 5-65-107(a) provides:

"(a) A person arrested for violating 5-65-103 shall be tried on the charge of violating 5-65-103 or plead to the charge of violating 5-65-103, and the charge of violating 5-65-103 shall not be reduced or dismissed."

For DWI penalties and license rules, see Arkansas DUI laws.

Driving without a license in Arkansas

License required. Ark. Code 27-16-602(a) provides that "No person, except those expressly exempted, shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person has a valid driver's license under the provisions of this chapter."

General penalty. Under Ark. Code 27-16-301(a), "In addition to any other penalties provided by the laws of this state and except as provided in subsection (b)," a person found guilty of violating the licensing chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500, imprisonment of up to 90 days, or both.

License not in hand. Ark. Code 27-16-601(b), as amended by Act 261 of 2023, provides that "No person charged with violating this section shall be convicted if he or she produces in court a driver's license issued to him or her and valid at the time of his or her arrest."

Driving while suspended or revoked. Under Ark. Code 27-16-303(a), a person who drives on Arkansas highways while the license or driving privilege is cancelled, suspended or revoked is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by "imprisonment for not less than two (2) days nor more than six (6) months," and "there may be imposed in addition thereto a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500)." Under 27-16-303(b)(1), on a conviction for driving while suspended, the Office of Driver Services shall extend the suspension for an additional like period; on a conviction for driving while revoked, it shall not issue a new license for an additional year after the person would otherwise have been entitled to apply, although 27-16-303(b)(2) provides that an application may be presented and acted upon after at least one year from the date of revocation. Driving during a suspension or revocation imposed under the DWI subchapter is an unclassified misdemeanor with 10 to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 that the court may assess (5-65-105).

Arkansas reckless driving and related offenses: penalty table

The class ranges come from Ark. Code 5-4-401 and 5-4-201. For misdemeanors: Class A up to one year in jail and a fine up to $2,500; Class B up to 90 days and up to $1,000; Class C up to 30 days and up to $500; an unclassified misdemeanor follows the limits in the statute that defines it. For felonies: Class A 6 to 30 years, Class B 5 to 20 years, Class C 3 to 10 years, Class D up to 6 years; fines up to $15,000 for Class A and B felonies and up to $10,000 for Class C and D felonies. Reckless driving is the exception: its range comes from 27-50-308(b) itself. For the full class table, see Arkansas felony and misdemeanor classes.

Vehicular homicide in Arkansas

When a death results within one year from driving "in reckless or wanton disregard of the safety of others," the offense is negligent homicide under Ark. Code 27-50-307, covered with the related Title 5 homicide offenses on the Arkansas manslaughter laws page.

Recent changes to Arkansas reckless driving and racing laws

• 2021: racing tiers. Act 1061 of 2021 (SB247, approved April 30, 2021) rewrote 27-50-309(b) and (c), adding the six-month license suspension for a subsequent racing offense within five years and the Class D felony for racing that blocks traffic or is part of a gathering of 10 or more.
• 2021: school buses. Act 264 of 2021 (HB1265, approved March 4, 2021) amended the school bus law, including the Class A misdemeanor for passing a stopped bus with reckless disregard, now 27-51-1004(d).
• 2021, 2023 and 2025: fleeing. Act 722 of 2021 (SB307), Act 734 of 2023 (HB1623) and Act 822 of 2025 (HB1844) rewrote the vehicle tiers of 5-54-125(d), including the 30-day minimum for fleeing over the speed limit, the Class D felony tier for fleeing over the posted limit, and the one-class increase for exiting a moving vehicle and continuing on foot.
• 2023: racing impoundment. Act 714 of 2023 (SB511, approved April 11, 2023) added 27-50-309(e), the discretionary impoundment for a repeat racing offense.
• 2025: work zones. Act 327 of 2025 (HB1596, approved March 18, 2025) made the work-zone additional fine in 27-50-408 discretionary (the trial judge "may assess" it, replacing "shall assess") and extended it to mobile work zones.
• Reckless driving itself. Section 27-50-308 has not been amended since Acts 1987, No. 258.

Related Arkansas laws

• Reckless driving laws by state
• Arkansas DUI laws
• Arkansas manslaughter laws
• Arkansas felony and misdemeanor classes
• Arkansas hit-and-run laws
• Arkansas expungement laws

This article is general legal information about Arkansas law, not legal advice. For a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Arkansas, or the Arkansas DFA Office of Driver Services for driver's license questions.

Last updated: 2026-10-25.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is reckless driving a misdemeanor in Arkansas?

Yes. Ark. Code 27-50-302(a)(2) classifies reckless driving as a Class B misdemeanor, and 27-50-308(b) sets its penalties: 5 to 90 days, a $25 to $500 fine, or both for a first offense without injury, and 30 to 90 days, $100 to $1,000, or both if physical injury results.

What counts as reckless driving in Arkansas?

Driving any vehicle in such a manner as to indicate a wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property (Ark. Code 27-50-308(a)). Under 27-49-102(2), the section applies on highways and elsewhere throughout the state.

Can a second reckless driving conviction mean more jail time in Arkansas?

Yes. A second or later offense within three years of the first carries 30 days to six months, a $500 to $1,000 fine, or both; if it involves physical injury, 60 days to one year with the same fine range (27-50-308(b)(2)).

How fast is reckless driving in Arkansas?

Section 27-50-308 does not set a speed; it turns on wanton disregard for safety. Speeding more than 15 mph over the posted limit is a separate Class C misdemeanor under 27-50-302(a)(7).

How many points is reckless driving in Arkansas?

Eight points on the Arkansas DFA Driver Services violations and points schedule. When a driver reaches 14 or more points, a hearing is automatically scheduled, and the license is automatically suspended if the driver fails to attend.

Does reckless driving suspend your license in Arkansas?

A single conviction allows, but does not require, a suspension: the sentencing court may suspend a license for up to one year after any moving violation (27-50-306(a)). Three reckless driving convictions for charges committed within 12 months require revocation (27-16-905(5)), and after a revocation Driver Services shall not grant a new license until one year has passed (27-16-912).

What is careless driving in Arkansas?

Ark. Code 27-51-104 prohibits driving so carelessly as to show a failure to keep a proper lookout or maintain proper control, and lists acts such as inattentive driving and spinning or sliding the tires. The section sets a fine of up to $100.

Does Arkansas have a wet reckless?

The reckless driving section and the DWI chapter contain no provision for one. Ark. Code 5-65-107(a) states that a person arrested for DWI under 5-65-103 shall be tried on or plead to that charge, and that the charge shall not be reduced or dismissed.

Is street racing a felony in Arkansas?

Racing on a public highway is a Class A misdemeanor, but it becomes felony racing, a Class D felony, when it impedes or stops traffic or is part of a gathering of 10 or more people engaging in the same or similar behavior (27-50-309(c)).

What is the penalty for driving on a suspended license in Arkansas?

Driving while a license is cancelled, suspended or revoked is a misdemeanor punishable by 2 days to six months in jail, plus a possible fine of up to $500 (27-16-303), and Driver Services extends the suspension for an additional like period (27-16-303(b)(1)). Driving during a DWI suspension or revocation is an unclassified misdemeanor with 10 to 90 days in jail (5-65-105).