AR HB1645

Amends Arkansas Code § 27-16-915 to define "specialty court" to include pre-adjudication programs, drug courts, probation programs, DWI courts, mental health courts, veteran's courts, juvenile drug courts, HOPE courts, and smarter sentencing courts approved by the Arkansas Supreme Court.

Requires courts to suspend driving privileges for 6 months upon a person's guilty plea, nolo contendere plea, or conviction for drug offenses; commercial driver's license holders face a 1-year suspension of commercial vehicle driving privileges.

Permits Arkansas courts to issue restricted driving permits in cases of extreme and unusual hardship or for specialty court program participants, allowing driving to mandatory court appearances, drug testing, employment, educational institutions, treatment programs, medical appointments, and specialty court sessions.

Courts must transmit suspension orders to the Department of Finance and Administration within 24 hours of plea or guilty finding, and transmit restricted driving permit orders within 3 business days; the department must forward permits to the Arkansas Crime Information Center within 3 business days.

Prohibits issuance of restricted driving permits if the person's driving privileges are subject to revocation, court-prohibited suspension, ignition interlock restrictions, or specific statutory suspensions listed in the code; restricts permits to non-commercial vehicles only.