Arkansas Senate Backs Penalties for Fatigued Drivers

April 10, 2013

The Arkansas Senate has approved legislation that would allow prosecutors to charge drowsy drivers with negligent homicide when they cause fatal crashes.

By a 23-2 vote, the Senate approved a bill that would allow prosecutors to apply the charge to drivers in fatal crashes if they have been without sleep for 24 hours or have fallen asleep at the wheel after going without sleep for that long.

Republican Sen. Jason Rapert of Conway said he proposed the legislation in response to fatal accidents in the state that have been caused by drowsy drivers where prosecutors were unable to file charges.

The bill now heads to the House.

Topics Personal Auto Politics

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Latest Comments

  • April 12, 2013 at 9:12 am
    ExciteBiker says:
    Huh! Indeed... Accidents happen, and they don't require negligence. Crimes without a component of negligence or wrongdoing are a bad idea. You pass a law like that, and peop... read more
  • April 11, 2013 at 8:20 am
    Glassflower says:
    or old age. Think of how many elderly continue to drive and plow thru storefronts, crowds of people etc.
  • April 10, 2013 at 2:49 pm
    Huh! says:
    Any driver that causes a fatality should be charged with negligent homicide -- the cause doesn't have to be limited to intoxication, drowsiness or cell phone use.

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