DRIVERS have been slapped with a brand new road law that doubles the amount they owe after getting a ticket.
The rule was put into place in hopes of protecting road crews in work zones.
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Starting on Tuesday, traffic fines are now doubled in mobile work zones in the state of Arkansas.
This includes fines for speeding, careless driving, driving while intoxicated, improper lane change, and multiple other no violations on the road.
In Arkansas, if a driver goes over the speed limit by more than 15 miles per hour, they can be hit with a $500 fine.
This means that if you’re speeding by more than 15 mph in a mobile work zone, you could face a $1,000 fine.
State law already doubled fines in stationary work zones, where the activity remains in a fixed area with clear boundaries and a set duration.
But mobile work zones are needed when a crew is moving continually or with short stops.
Mobile work zones include areas of pothole patching, road striping, and street sweeping.
The new law means that drivers will have to slow down when passing all construction workers, including ARDOT and contractors, as well as other road departments and their contractors.
Crews are required to warn drivers that they’re in a work zone, whether it’s mobile or static, and that fines are doubled.
The stretches can be marked with a sign, device, barrier, or a work vehicle with lights.
To help drivers realize they’re entering a mobile work zone, signs warning “mobile work zone/fines double” will be shown on the back of Arkansas Department of Transportation work trucks with lights.
“It can be it can be fast, and it can be dangerous,” David Stinnett, the District 6 ARDOT Maintenance Engineer, told CBS affiliate KTHV.
“Our folks are sitting there trying to fix a hole in the road or mow grass or, you know, take care of issues that are safety concerns for the public.
“And so oftentimes, our people are within just a few feet of those people driving by.”
New driving laws in 2025
Drivers across the United States are having to adjust to a slew of new road rules that take effect in 2025. Some of those include:
The mobile work zone law was one of several road safety laws that took effect in Arkansas on Tuesday.
Act 209 now allows ARDOT construction and maintenance vehicles to have green flashing lights.
This will help warn drivers to pay attention while traveling through work zones.
Plus, it will help visibility during foggy or rainy driving conditions.
More information about work zone safety was also added to the Arkansas Driver’s Manual and test.
It comes as new traffic laws across the country are targeting slow drivers, distracted drivers, and those who haven’t paid their parking tickets.
