(a) “Suspend” means to temporarily withdraw, by formal action, a driver's license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle on public highways, which shall be for a period specifically designated by the suspending authority.
(b) “Revoke” means to terminate, by formal action, a driver's license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle on the public highways, which shall not be subject to renewal or restoration. However, an application for a new license may be presented and acted upon by the office after the expiration of at least one (1) year after the date of revocation.
History. Acts 1937, No. 280, § 3; 1969, No. 300, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, § 75-303.
Case Notes
Formal Action Required.
Suspension.
-Foreign State.
-Temporary Withdrawal.
Under Arkansas law, a driver's license is not automatically revoked or suspended by operation of law when grounds therefore arise, but only after formal action is taken to revoke or suspend the license. Mounts v. State, 48 Ark. App. 1, 888 S.W.2d 321 (1994).
Suspensions in one state have the effect of precluding a driver from obtaining a license in other states; that is what happens in Arkansas, and recognition of foreign state suspensions is appropriate so long as those suspensions are effective for a fixed period of time. Sievers v. City of Fort Smith, 320 Ark. 136, 894 S.W.2d 940 (1995).
Foreign state suspensions are not appropriate when they exist for indefinite periods without explanation or reason. Sievers v. City of Fort Smith, 320 Ark. 136, 894 S.W.2d 940 (1995).
A suspension that continues for nine or ten years is not temporary under anyone's definition and certainly exceeds the one-year limitation set out under § 27-16-912. Sievers v. City of Fort Smith, 320 Ark. 136, 894 S.W.2d 940 (1995).
Cited: Red Top Driv-Ur Self Co. v. Munger, 229 Ark. 998, 320 S.W.2d 97 (1959).