§ 5-65-104 - Seizure, suspension, and revocation of license -- Temporary permits -- Ignition interlock restricted license.

5-65-104. Seizure, suspension, and revocation of license -- Temporary permits -- Ignition interlock restricted license.

(a) (1) At the time of arrest for operating or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while intoxicated or while there was an alcohol concentration of eight hundredths (0.08) or more in the person's breath or blood, as provided in 5-65-103, the arrested person shall immediately surrender his or her license, permit, or other evidence of driving privilege to the arresting law enforcement officer as provided in 5-65-402.

(2) The Office of Driver Services or its designated official shall suspend or revoke the driving privilege of an arrested person or shall suspend any nonresident driving privilege of an arrested person, as provided in 5-65-402. The suspension or revocation shall be based on the number of previous offenses as follows:

(A) Suspension for:

(i) (a) Six (6) months for the first offense of operating or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while intoxicated or while there was an alcohol concentration of at least eight hundredths (0.08) by weight of alcohol in the person's blood or breath, 5-65-103.

(b) If the Office of Driver Services allows the issuance of an ignition interlock restricted license under 5-65-118, the ignition interlock restricted license shall be available immediately.

(c) The restricted driving permit under 5-65-120 is not allowed for a suspension under this subdivision (a)(2)(A)(i); and

(ii) (a) Suspension for six (6) months for the first offense of operating or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while intoxicated by the ingestion of or by the use of a controlled substance.

(b) The ignition interlock restricted license provision of 5-65-118 does not apply to a suspension under subdivision (a)(2)(A)(ii)(a) of this section;

(B) (i) Suspension for twenty-four (24) months for a second offense of operating or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while intoxicated or while there was an alcohol concentration of eight hundredths (0.08) or more by weight of alcohol in the person's blood or breath, 5-65-103, within five (5) years of the first offense.

(ii) However, if the office allows the issuance of an ignition interlock restricted license under 5-65-118, the suspension period for which no restricted license is available is a minimum of forty-five (45) days, followed by restricted driving privileges to allow driving in any and all of the following situations:

(a) To and from his or her employment;

(b) To and from an educational institution for the purpose of attending class at the educational institution;

(c) To and from an alcohol safety education and treatment course for drunk drivers; or

(d) To and from an ignition interlock service.

(iii) The ignition interlock restricted license provision of 5-65-118 does not apply to the suspension under subdivisions (a)(2)(B)(i) and (ii) of this section if the person is arrested for an offense of operating or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while intoxicated by the ingestion of or by the use of a controlled substance;

(C) (i) Suspension for thirty (30) months for the third offense of operating or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while intoxicated or while there was an alcohol concentration of eight hundredths (0.08) or more by weight of alcohol in the person's blood or breath, 5-65-103, within five (5) years of the first offense.

(ii) However, if the office allows the issuance of an ignition interlock restricted license under 5-65-118, the suspension period for which no restricted license is available is a minimum of forty-five (45) days, followed by restricted driving privileges to allow driving in any and all of the following situations:

(a) To and from his or her employment;

(b) To and from an educational institution for the purpose of attending class at the education institution;

(c) To and from an alcohol safety education and treatment course for drunk drivers; or

(d) To and from an ignition interlock service.

(iii) The ignition interlock restricted license provision of 5-65-118 does not apply to the suspension under subdivisions (a)(2)(C)(i) and (ii) if the person is arrested for an offense of operating or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while intoxicated by the ingestion of or by the use of a controlled substance; and

(D) Revocation for four (4) years, during which no restricted permits may be issued, for the fourth or subsequent offense of operating or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while intoxicated or while there was an alcohol concentration of eight hundredths (0.08) or more by weight of alcohol in the person's blood or breath, 5-65-103, within five (5) years of the first offense.

(3) If a person is a resident who is convicted of driving without a license or permit to operate a motor vehicle and the underlying basis for the suspension, revocation, or restriction of the license was for a violation of 5-65-103, in addition to any other penalties provided for under law, the office may restrict the offender to only an ignition interlock restricted license for a period of one (1) year prior to the reinstatement or reissuance of a license or permit after the person would otherwise be eligible for reinstatement or reissuance of the person's license.

(4) In order to determine the number of previous offenses to consider when suspending or revoking the arrested person's driving privileges, the office shall consider as a previous offense any of the following that occurred within the five (5) years immediately before the current offense:

(A) Any conviction for an offense of operating or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while intoxicated or while there was an alcohol concentration of eight hundredths (0.08) or more in the person's breath or blood, including a violation of 5-10-105(a)(1)(A) or (B), that occurred:

(i) In Arkansas; or

(ii) In another state;

(B) Any suspension or revocation of driving privileges for an arrest for operating or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while intoxicated or while there was an alcohol concentration of eight hundredths (0.08) or more in the person's breath or blood under 5-65-103 when the person was not subsequently acquitted of the criminal charges; or

(C) Any conviction under 5-76-102 for an offense of operating a motorboat on the waters of this state while intoxicated or while there was an alcohol concentration in the person's breath or blood of eight hundredths (0.08) or more based upon the definition of breath, blood, and urine concentration in 5-65-204 or refusing to submit to a chemical test under 5-76-104 occurring on or after July 31, 2007, when the person was not subsequently acquitted of the criminal charges.

(b) (1) (A) Any person whose license is suspended or revoked pursuant to this section is required to complete an alcohol education program or an alcohol treatment program as approved by the Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention unless the charges are dismissed or the person is acquitted of the charges upon which the suspension or revocation is based.

(B) If during the period of suspension or revocation under subdivision (b)(1)(A) of this section the person commits an additional violation of 5-65-103, he or she is also required to complete an approved alcohol education program or alcohol treatment program for each additional violation, unless:

(i) The additional charges are dismissed; or

(ii) He or she is acquitted of the additional charges.

(2) A person whose license is suspended or revoked pursuant to this section shall furnish proof of attendance at and completion of the alcohol education program or the alcohol treatment program required under subdivision (b)(1) of this section before reinstatement of his or her suspended or revoked driver's license or shall furnish proof of dismissal or acquittal of the charge on which the suspension or revocation is based.

(3) Even if a person has filed a de novo petition for review pursuant to former subsection (c) of this section, the person is entitled to reinstatement of driving privileges upon complying with this subsection and is not required to postpone reinstatement until the disposition of the de novo review in circuit court has occurred.