Cameras that can detect drivers using handheld devices will be deployed in January, Arkansas DOT says

Arkansas police will have a new tool to combat distracted driving when new camera technology goes online in work zones this month.

Starting in mid-January of 2026, camera systems already in use in work zones for speed enforcement will now detect when a driver is using a handheld device such as a cell phone, according to the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT).

The camera system will then send an alert to a police officer “downstream,” who can then safely pull over the driver when they exit the work zone and administer a warning or a citation.

Signage will alert drivers to the fact that the camera enforcement system is in use in the work zones.

“It is against Arkansas law to use a handheld device in a work zone,” said Arkansas Highway Patrol Chief Jeff Holmes. “Until now, the hands-free law in work zones has been relatively difficult to enforce. This new technology will help us keep road workers and the traveling public safer.”

ARDOT says that data captured by the cameras will only be used for enforcement purposes.

“Safety is our top priority at ARDOT. This includes the safety of workers within work zones, travelers passing through work zones, and officers stationed in or near work zones. Everyone deserves to make it home safely,” said ARDOT Director Jared Wiley. “This technology is yet another tool officers can use to enforce the laws that were enacted with safety in mind.”