Ark. Code Ann. § 27-16-301 (2026)
Penalty generally
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In addition to any other penalties provided by the laws of this state and except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or has been found guilty of violating this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by:
- A fine not more than five hundred dollars ($500);
- Imprisonment of not more than ninety (90) days; or
- Both a fine and imprisonment as provided under this subsection.
- The penalty under this section does not apply if the violation is a felony or has a more serious penalty under this chapter or the laws of this state.
History. Acts 1937, No. 280, § 42; Pope's Dig., § 6866; Acts 1939, No. 72, § 2; 1941, No. 370, § 2; A.S.A. 1947, § 75-346; Acts 2001, No. 1802, § 1; 2013, No. 85, § 1.
Amendments. The 2013 amendment rewrote the section.
Case Notes
Civil Liability.
Parent who allows a minor child to drive without a license commits a misdemeanor, but violation of law does not make parent liable as a matter of law for negligence of child as result of a collision. Richardson v. Donaldson, 220 Ark. 173, 246 S.W.2d 551 (1952), superseded by statute as stated in, Vaught v. Ross, 244 Ark. 1218, 428 S.W.2d 631 (1968).
Prosecution.
No grand jury action, indictment, or information was necessary to prosecute the defendant for driving without a license, since driving without a license is a misdemeanor and a misdemeanor may be charged by a citation. Satterlee v. State, 289 Ark. 450, 711 S.W.2d 827 (1986).
Cited: Gran v. Hale, 294 Ark. 563, 745 S.W.2d 129 (1988); Cook v. State, 321 Ark. 641, 906 S.W.2d 681 (1995).