Legislation that would make Arkansas' new open-container prohibition comport with federal law passed with ease Wednesday in the state House of Representatives and Senate.
The House voted 94-0 for House Bill 1001. Its sponsor, Rep. Mathew Pitsch, R-Fort Smith, said the bill simply mirrors language in federal law concerning the prohibition of open containers in vehicles.
When Arkansas became one of the last states to enact such a prohibition last year, Pitsch said, the language passed by lawmakers was not the same as that dictated by federal law, placing federal highway funds in danger. HB1001 fixes that, he said.
Without the changes in state law, the state Department of Transportation would be limited to using about $12 million in federal highway construction and maintenance funds for safety purposes starting in the federal fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, department spokesman Danny Straessle said last month.
HB1001 heads to the Senate.
The Senate voted 30-0 to approve an identical bill -- Senate Bill 4 by Bill Sample, R-Hot Springs. It goes to the House.
-- John Moritz and Michael R. Wickline
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A Section on 03/15/2018