11/27/02 --- If successful, a brand-new bill proposed in the Arkansas General Assembly may grant a seven-year amnesty to homebound truckers who would otherwise have to pay back taxes, penalties and interest for base-plating out of state.
On Nov. 25, state Rep. Don House (D-Walnut Ridge) proposed legislation that would cap the sales tax at $1,000 for a truck and $500 for a trailer. The bill is co-sponsored by Johnnie Bolin (D-Crossett). The two lawmakers call the bill a compromise that will help hundreds of Arkansas truckers come home.
House discussed his bill Monday in an ad hoc subcommittee meeting of the House and Senate Committees on Public Transportation. He hopes to introduce it in a special or regular legislative session. The Arkansas General Assembly's regular session convenes Jan. 13.
Lane Kidd, executive director of the Arkansas Trucking Association, told legislators Monday that the bill would give relief to hundreds of small-business owners, although he did not know how many trucking-company owners from his state were registered in Oklahoma.
In September, Kidd said a trucking company owner could register a truck and trailer in Arkansas and pay $6,380 in sales tax, or they could register in a state like Oklahoma and pay a $51 charge for excise tax, title and lien fees. Kidd says he is advising Arkansas truckers to leave the state instead of paying back sales tax or being forced to go out of business by Dec. 31.
Officials at the state's Department of Finance and Administration said it was illegal to go to Oklahoma in the first place, citing a law that says if you are a resident of Arkansas, you must register in Arkansas. Rep. House says he will consult the attorney general on this.
House plans to propose his bill to the full Committee for Public Transportation this week and file a final draft after Thanksgiving.
The official Web site of the Arkansas General Assembly at www.arkleg.state.ar.us. The site will give you information on your senator or representative (by name, district or map) and how to contact them.

5/14/2001 - The Arkansas session ended April 13. All bills are officially now dead except those sent for interim study. Look for Sen. Ed Wilkerson's SB150, a bill to increase the maximum axle weight on steer axles to 18,000 pounds to be reintroduced in 2002.

4/24/01 - The Arkansas session ended April 13. Some bills died; others survived to be discussed between sessions.
Among those that died: Introduced at the request of the Arkansas State Police, HB1363 would have required trucks to maintain a following distance of at least 200 feet from all motor vehicles on highways at 55 mph or greater. HB1363 died in committee, as it should have.
SB253 would have prohibited police from searching a motor vehicle, its contents, the driver, or a passenger solely because of a violation of the state's mandatory seat belt law. The bill also would have prevented the state from revoking a driver's license because of seat belt law violations. This proposed law never made it to a floor vote.
Among those that lived: SB150 proposes increasing the maximum axle weight on steer axles to 18,000 pounds. This bill was sent to an interim committee to be reviewed between sessions.
Rep. Jim Hendren's bill, HB1229, prohibiting use of cell phones by drivers of moving vehicles, has been sent for a two-year study by the Public Transportation Committee.

4/13/01 -- The Arkansas session ended April 13, leaving some important bills hanging, some dead to be resurrected in two years and one withdrawn by author.Introduced at the request of the Arkansas State Police, HB1363 deals with commercial motor vehicles and following distances. On Feb. 5, it passed from the House to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Current state law mandates trucks maintain a minimum following distance of 200 feet from each other, but does not require any minimum following distance between trucks and other vehicles. This bill would require trucks to maintain a following distance of at least 200 feet from all motor vehicles on highways with a speed limit of 55 mph or greater. In the event that another vehicle takes action that causes the distance to be less than 200 feet, the bill states it is an affirmative defense that the driver of the commercial motor vehicle took prompt action and reasonable steps to restore the correct following distance. According to Arkansas bill status, essentially, this bill is dead.
If it becomes law, SB253 will prohibit police from searching a motor vehicle, its contents, the driver, or a passenger solely because of a violation of the state's mandatory seat belt law. The bill would also prevent the state from revoking a driver's license because of seat belt law violations. SB253 in still in the Senate Judiciary Committee and never came up for a vote.
SB150 proposes increasing the maximum axle weight on steer axles to 18,000 pounds. Current state law limits truckers to 12,000 pounds on the front axle. This bill never made it out of the Interim Committee on Transportation.
HB1125 seeks to limit the maximum height of a load of sand, gravel or rock to the highest point of the edge of the vehicle's open bed. With time running out, on April 12, HB1125 was resurrected by sponsor Rep. Jim Hendren and sent to the floor to be read before session's end.
Rep. Jim Hendren's bill, HB1229, to prohibit the use of cell phones by drivers of a moving vehicle has been sent for a two-year study in the public Transportation Committee.
HB1414 will require vehicles approaching an emergency vehicle on the shoulder of a highway having two or more lanes in each direction to move into a lane not adjacent to that of the emergency authorized vehicle. If changing lanes would be unsafe, other vehicles should reduce speed and proceed with caution. Violators will be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. However, if the violation results in injury or death to any person, the violator will be charged with a Class D felony. HB1414 was withdrawn by author Rep. Russ Hunt on April 6.
The general information number for the Arkansas Senate is (501) 682-2902. The Bill Status number is (501) 682-5951.

2/12/01 - Introduced at the request of the Arkansas State Police, HB1363 deals with commercial motor vehicles and following distances. On Feb. 5, it passed from the House to the Senate. Current state law mandates trucks maintain a minimum following distance of 200 feet from each other, but does not require any minimum following distance between trucks and other vehicles. This bill would require trucks to maintain a following distance of at least 200 feet from all motor vehicles on highways with a speed limit of 55 mph or greater. In the event that another vehicle takes action that causes the distance to be less than 200 feet, the bill states Òit is an affirmative defense that the driver of the commercial motor vehicle took prompt action and reasonable steps to restore the correct following distance.
If it becomes law, SB253 will prohibit police from searching a motor vehicle, its contents, the driver, or a passenger solely because of a violation of the state's mandatory seat belt law. The bill would also prevent the state from revoking a driver's license because of seat belt law violations.
SB150 proposes increasing the maximum axle weight on steer axles to 18,000 pounds. Current state law limits truckers to 12,000 pounds on the front axle.
HB1125 seeks to limit the maximum height of a load of sand, gravel or rock to the highest point of the edge of the vehicle's open bed.
HB1229 will prohibit the use of cell phones by drivers of a moving vehicle.
HB1414 will require vehicles approaching an emergency vehicle on the shoulder of a highway having two or more lanes in each direction to move into a lane not adjacent to that of the emergency authorized vehicle. If changing lanes would be unsafe, other vehicles should reduce speed and proceed with caution. Violators will be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. However, if the violation results in injury or death to any person, the violator will be charged with a Class D felony if this bill becomes law.
The general information number of the Arkansas Senate is (501) 682-2902. The House number is (501) 682-6211.