October of 2009 a law was passed against texting while driving.
April 10- 15 officers in Arkansas would be strictly enforcing that law as a part of the national U Drive. U Text. U Pay. campaign.
According to the Fort Smith Municipal Court, a citation for texting and driving could cost a person $215.
Lynn Lisk, Director of Paralegal Studies at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, said officers would not be able to pull drivers over at random.
According to him, officers had to have a reasonable suspicion that a driver was engaging in an illegal activity before they could pull them over.
Lisk said if drivers were texting or checking their devices at a stop light or stop sign they could be ticketed because they were still on the road.
The professor said if a person refused to show officers their phone they could receive a search warrant to check the phone.
The law states that a person under the age of 18 could not use a telephone while driving for any reason.
A person between the ages of 18-20 could talk on the phone only while using a hands free device.
Adults 21 and up were allowed to use a smartphone for calls only.
Residents in the River Valley said they supported the crack down and texting and driving was unsafe for all drivers on the road.