(a) Within thirty (30) calendar days of becoming a resident, a person who is a resident of this state shall obtain an Arkansas motor vehicle registration and license in order to operate a motor vehicle upon the streets and highways of this state.
(b) A nonresident person who has been physically present in this state for a period of six (6) months shall obtain an Arkansas motor vehicle registration and license in order to operate a motor vehicle upon the streets and highways of this state.
(c)
(1)
(A) As used in this subsection, “entity” means a firm, corporation, association, partnership, or organization that transacts or conducts business in Arkansas and has a place of business in Arkansas.
(B) “Entity” does not include a firm, corporation, association, partnership, or organization engaged in one (1) or more of the following:
(i) Governmental operations, including municipal, county, state, or federal operations;
(ii) Utility operation, maintenance, or repair;
(iii) Construction;
(iv) Natural resource exploration, production, or mining, including without limitation oil, gas, gravel, and timber; or
(v) Agricultural operations.
(2)
(A)
(i) An entity that transacts or conducts business in Arkansas and has a place of business in Arkansas shall register a motor vehicle considered a pleasure vehicle under § 27-14-601(a)(1) that the entity owns and uses in its business operations in the state with the Office of Motor Vehicle within thirty (30) calendar days from the start of business in the state.
(ii) If an entity began transacting or conducting business in the state before July 31, 2009, the entity shall have thirty (30) calendar days to comply with this subsection.
(B)
(i) If a court of competent jurisdiction finds that an entity has failed to comply with subdivision (c)(2)(A) of this section, the court may assess a civil penalty against the entity not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
(ii) Proof that an employee or owner of the entity was found guilty of a violation of subdivision (c)(2)(A) of this section shall establish a prima facie case that the entity failed to comply with subdivision (c)(2)(A) of this section.
(iii) A penalty assessed under this subdivision (c)(2)(B) shall become a lien against the property owned by the entity in the state.
(iv) An entity may appeal the assessment of a civil penalty under this subdivision (c)(2)(B) to a circuit court of competent jurisdiction.
(d) A person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is found guilty of operating a motor vehicle that is not in compliance with this section is guilty of a violation and punishable as provided under § 5-4-201(c).
Structure Arkansas Code
Subtitle 2 - Motor Vehicle Registration and Licensing
Chapter 14 - Motor Vehicle Administration, Certificate of Title, and Antitheft Act
Subchapter 7 - Registration and Certificates of Title
§ 27-14-701. Requirements — Exception
§ 27-14-702. No other license required
§ 27-14-703. Vehicles subject to registration — Exceptions
§ 27-14-704. Motor vehicles registered in foreign states
§ 27-14-705. Application for registration and certificate of title — Definitions
§ 27-14-708. Temporary permit pending registration
§ 27-14-709. Half-year license
§ 27-14-710. Grounds for refusing registration or certificate of title
§ 27-14-711. Examination of registration records and index of stolen and recovered vehicles
§ 27-14-712. Registration indexes
§ 27-14-713. Issuance of registration certificates and certificates of title
§ 27-14-714. Registration certificate to be signed, carried, and exhibited on demand
§ 27-14-715. Issuance of license plates
§ 27-14-716. Display of license plates generally
§ 27-14-717. License plates for proper year alone to be displayed — Exception
§ 27-14-718. Application for renewal of registration
§ 27-14-719. No renewal of certificates of title
§ 27-14-720. Lost or damaged certificates and plates
§ 27-14-721. Assignment of new identifying numbers
§ 27-14-722. Change of engines
§ 27-14-723. Registration and license required upon presence in state
§ 27-14-725. Limited vehicle identification number verification
§ 27-14-726. Mini-trucks — Definitions
§ 27-14-727. Certificate of title with beneficiary — Definitions