Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 27 - TRANSPORTATION (§§ 27-1-101 — 27-117-105) › Subtitle 2 - MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND LICENSING (§§ 27-13-101 — 27-25-113) › Chapter 16 - DRIVER'S LICENSES GENERALLY (§§ 27-16-101 — 27-16-1309) › Subchapter 7 - APPLICATION AND EXAMINATION (§§ 27-16-701 — 27-16-706) › Section 27-16-701 - Application for license or instruction permit - Restricted permits - Definition

(a)
(1)
Every application for an instruction permit or for a commercial or noncommercial driver's license shall be made upon a form furnished by the Office of Driver Services, and every application shall be accompanied by the required fee.
(2)
The commercial driver's license or noncommercial driver's license shall include the intermediate driver's license issued to persons who are less than eighteen (18) years of age and the learner's license issued to persons who are less than sixteen (16) years of age.
(b)
Every application shall:
(1)
State the full name, date of birth, sex, and residence address of the applicant;
(2)
Briefly describe the applicant; and
(3)
State whether the applicant has theretofore been licensed as a driver and, if so, when and by what state or country, whether any license has ever been suspended or revoked, or whether an application has ever been refused, and, if so, the date of and reason for suspension, revocation, or refusal.
(c)
(1)
Every application form for an instruction permit, a commercial or noncommercial driver's license, or any renewal of these licenses or permits shall include space for the applicant's Social Security number if he or she has been assigned such a number.
(2)
Every applicant shall supply his or her Social Security number on the application form when he or she has been assigned such a number.
(d)
Every application for an instruction permit or for a driver's license by a person less than eighteen (18) years of age on October 1 of any year shall be accompanied by:
(1)
A check of the applicant's driving record to verify that the applicant for a learner's license or an intermediate driver's license has been free of a serious accident and conviction of a serious traffic violation for the last six (6) months and that an applicant with an intermediate driver's license applying for a regular license has been free of a serious accident and conviction of a serious traffic violation for the last twelve (12) months;
(2)
An acknowledgment signed by the applicant of a learner's license that the student is aware that all passengers riding in the motor vehicle shall wear seat belts at all times and that the student is restricted to driving only when accompanied by a driver over twenty-one (21) years of age;
(3)
An acknowledgment signed by the applicant for an intermediate driver's license that all passengers riding in the motor vehicle shall wear seat belts at all times;
(4)
An acknowledgment signed by the applicant for a learner's license or an intermediate driver's license that the applicant is prohibited from using a cellular telephone or other interactive wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle;
(5)
(A)
An acknowledgment signed by the applicant for an intermediate driver's license that the applicant shall not operate a motor vehicle on public streets or highways with more than one (1) unrelated minor passenger in the motor vehicle unless the applicant is accompanied by a licensed driver who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older.
(B)
As used in this section, "unrelated minor passenger" means a passenger who is under twenty-one (21) years of age and who is not:
(i)
A sibling of the driver;
(ii)
A stepsibling of the driver; or
(iii)
A child who resides in the same household as the driver; and
(6)
An acknowledgment signed by the applicant for an intermediate driver's license that the applicant shall not operate a motor vehicle on public streets or highways between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. unless the applicant is:
(A)
Accompanied by a licensed driver who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older;
(B)
Driving to or from a school activity, church-related activity, or job; or
(C)
Driving because of an emergency.
(e)
(1)
In cases in which demonstrable financial hardship would result from the failure to issue a learner's permit or driver's license, the Department of Finance and Administration may grant exceptions only to the extent necessary to ameliorate the hardship.
(2)
If it can be demonstrated that the conditions for granting a hardship were fraudulent, the parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis shall be subject to all applicable perjury statutes.
(f)
The department shall have the power to promulgate rules to carry out the intent of this section.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 3115, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 617,§ 1, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 2408, eff. 7/1/2019.
Amended by Act 2017, No. 806,§ 2, eff. 8/1/2017.
Amended by Act 2017, No. 806,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2017.
Acts 1937, No. 280, § 12; Pope's Dig., § 6836; Acts 1969, No. 302, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, § 75-311; Acts 1987, No. 274, § 1; 1989, No. 8, § 1; 1991, No. 716, § 1; 1991, No. 831, § 1; 1993, No. 445, § 15; 1993, No. 971, § 1; 1994 (2nd Ex. Sess.), No. 30, § 3; 1994 (2nd Ex. Sess.), No. 31, § 3; 1997, No. 400, § 7; 1997, No. 1200, § 1; 2001, No. 1609, § 1; 2001, No. 1694, § 2; 2003, No. 836, § 1; 2009, No. 394, § 4.