Driving after a DUI in Arkansas: the Interlock restricted license or restricted driving permit

The first days: the administrative suspension and the hearing deadline

In most states the licensing agency suspends the license at arrest, separately from any court case, and the driver has a short window to request a hearing on that suspension. Missing it lets the suspension take effect without review.

The DFA states that at arrest the officer takes the license and issues an Official Driver's License Receipt, and the individual receives a 'Notice of Suspension/ Revocation/ Disqualification of Driving Privilege Form (ALS)'; the receipt allows driving for thirty (30) days if the person had a valid license; the individual has the right to request an administrative hearing with a Driver Control Hearing Officer within seven (7) calendar days to contest the administrative suspension, and may also request an uncontested hearing on restricted-license eligibility. The DFA DUI/DWI Administrative Hearing page states the hearing is before the Office of Driver Services or its agent at the Revenue Office nearest the county of arrest (or another agreed county), may be conducted by telephone, is not recorded, covers whether the officer had reasonable grounds and whether the test showed 0.08 or more or

“The individual has the right to request an administrative hearing with a Driver Control Hearing Officer within seven (7) calendar days to contest the administrative suspension.”

Who can get it, and how soon

The DFA Office of Driver Services states that after a DUI/DWI arrest the individual may request an uncontested hearing with Driver Control to determine eligibility for an interlock restricted license or a restricted driving permit, contingent on the type of DUI/DWI/BUI/BWI offense; the page lists the offense types (DWI Alcohol, DWI Drugs, Refusal, Underage DUI, CDL/CMV DWI and others) but does not state which types qualify or the eligibility conditions. The codified conditions in Ark. Code § 5-65-104 could not be fetched (see notes).

“The individual may also request an uncontested hearing with Driver Control to determine their eligibility for an interlock restricted license or a restricted driving permit contingent on the type of DUI/DWI/BUI/BWI offense.”

The DFA states the individual may drive temporarily for thirty (30) days on the Official Driver's License Receipt issued at arrest, provided they held a valid license, and that a first alcohol DWI/BWI carries a 6-month suspension (§ 5-65-104 per the DFA page's statutory reference) during which an ignition interlock is required for a period equal to the suspension before reinstatement. No waiting period before an interlock restricted license or restricted driving permit is stated on any fetched DFA page, and the codified § 5-65-104 text could not be retrieved, so both values are null. For refusals the DFA Refusals page lists reinstatement requirements only; no restricted-permit rule for refusals was found.

“The individual will be eligible to drive temporarily for thirty (30) days with the Driver’s License Receipt, provided they had a valid driver’s license at the time of the arrest.”

Conditions attached to the privilege

The DFA states only that eligibility for an interlock restricted license or a restricted driving permit is determined at an uncontested hearing with Driver Control, contingent on the offense type; the DFA Driver Services Forms page links a 'Restricted Permit Request Form' hosted on the state portal ar.accessgov.com. Act 841 of 2025 provides that if the office restricts a person to an ignition interlock in conjunction with an ignition interlock restricted license under § 5-65-104, the interlock must be used until the original suspension is completed, so the interlock restricted license by its terms requires an IID; conditions for the non-interlock restricted driving permit are not stated on any fetched page. The DFA's reinstatement list for alcohol DWI (education/treatment program, Victim Impact Panel, IID for the suspension period, $150 reinstatement fee) applies to reinstatement, not to

“Restricted Permit Request Form”

How it is issued

The licensing agency issues the Interlock restricted license or restricted driving permit.

Official page: dfa.arkansas.gov

The statute: Ark. Code Ann. § 5-65-104 (ignition interlock restricted license), as referenced in Act 841 of 2025 amending § 5-65-118(

“if the office restricts the person to using an ignition interlock device in conjunction with the issuance of an ignition interlock restricted license under § 5-65-104, the time the person is required to use the ignition interlock device shall be until the original suspension imposed under § 5-65-104”