New Arkansas legislation imposes English language requirements on truck drivers — but no proof of roadside tests
In April 2025, claims (archived) circulated that officials in the U.S. were carrying out roadside English tests on truck drivers, with fines for those who couldn't pass. The rumor first started in March and stemmed from a popular TikTok video (archived) in which a truck driver claimed authorities stopped him at a weigh station and asked him to prove he could read and write in English.
On April 12, the same TikTok user, @rawnyates311, posted (archived) another video saying that roadside English tests had now become law in Arkansas.
@rawnyates311
♬ original sound - rawnyates311
The user said:
Well, I just saw on Mutha Trucker News, and it looks like Arkansas passed the bill. So, those that cannot read or write English — you're screwed. I know there's a lot of people going to be sitting there (unintelligible) everything about it and stuff but, honestly, I believe, and Mutha Trucker News sort of sat there and said that he agreed with it also — that, I know I believe that, I think that anybody and everybody should be able to read the signs on the road regardless. It's a safety thing.
Mutha Trucker News is a trucking-focused news and opinion YouTube channel that posted a video about the Arkansas legislation regarding English-language requirements for truck drivers on April 12, the same date as the TikTok user above.
The claim about the English tests persisted on X (archived), Threads (archived) and Bluesky (archived) into April.
At the time of our previous report on this rumor in March 2025, we were unable to prove that officials in Arkansas were administering roadside English tests for truckers. A spokesperson from the Arkansas Highway Police, a division of the Arkansas Department of Transportation, said via email on March 19 that the force was not carrying out tests. The Arkansas State Police, a separate force, did not yet respond to our questions about the alleged tests.
At that time, legislation was underway in the Arkansas House of Representatives that proposed fines of up to $5,000 for commercial driver's license (CDL) holders who did not meet the English-language requirements for drivers laid out in the Code of Federal Regulation's (CFR). The act suggested higher fines of $10,000 for commercial vehicle carriers who employed drivers who did not meet English-language requirements.
That legislation, HB 1569, was since withdrawn. However, on April 14, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a separate bill, Act 604, that also included fines of up to $1,000 for CDL holders who did not meet the CFR's English-language requirements. That bill will become active around July 13, 2025 — 90 days after Sanders signed it — according to its sponsor, Rep. R.J. Hawk, who confirmed the information to Snopes via email.
An Arkansas Highway Police spokesperson said via email on April 23 that the force had not changed the way it enforced CFR English-language requirements since Snopes' last contact with the agency in March 2025, when a spokesperson said the agency wasn't carrying out English tests. We contacted Arkansas State Police again to ask whether it would be administering roadside English tests when Act 604 becomes active, and we await a reply. The TikTok user who posted the April 12 video did not return a request for comment about his alleged roadside English test.
HB 1754, which Sanders signed into law as Act 604, enacted essentially the same English-language requirements as the withdrawn HB 1569, though with milder punishments for offenses than HB 1569 proposed.
Act 604 created, among others, the offense of "operating a commercial motor vehicle without sufficient English language proficiency" that was also featured in HB 1569. According to the act:
27-23-304. Operating a commercial motor vehicle without sufficient English Language proficiency.
(a) An operator of a commercial motor vehicle shall be able to read and speak the English language sufficiently to:
(1) Converse with the general public;
(2) Understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language;
(3) Respond to official inquiries; and
(4) Make entries on reports and records.
Under Act 604, this offense is a violation and subject to a $500 fine in the first instance and a $1,000 fine for subsequent instances.
Act 604's definition of what constituted "sufficient English Language proficiency" was identical to the definition that appears in Title 49 in the Code of Federal Regulation (CFR). HB 1569 also used similar language.
According to the CFR, a person is qualified to drive a motor vehicle, commercial or otherwise, if the driver:
(2) Can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records;
Under HB 1569, commercial motor carriers could be fined $10,000 for providing a commercial motor vehicle to an "ineligible operator." This classification included someone who did not meet the bill's English-language requirements. Act 604, however, only imposes punishments on drivers, not carriers, for offenses committed under the act.
It was unclear at the time of this writing how officials would enforce Act 604's English-language proficiency requirement. The act itself did not specify which departments should enforce it or lay out how it should be done.
Snopes' archives contributed to this report.
49 CFR 391.11 -- General Qualifications of Drivers. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/part-391/section-391.11. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Christensen, Laerke. "What We Know about Rumors of Roadside English Tests for Truckers in Arkansas." Snopes, 18 Mar. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//news/2025/03/18/arkansas-truckers-english-test/.
HB1569 Bill Information. https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
HB1745 Bill Information. https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Motor 1
5 hours ago
- Motor 1
‘Never Knew This:' Honda Civic Driver of 3 Years Reaches for Key Fob. Then She Realizes It Has a Little-Known Feature
Now that summer is in full swing, internal car temperatures are on the rise. Leaving your car out to bake in the sun can be a brutal experience upon return. The car feels like a sauna when entering, while the leather seats burn the skin. You slowly roast alive while the air conditioning takes an eternity to get going. This is why car drivers will use a series of moves to do everything to keep the car temperature down while away. Drivers will prioritize parking in the shade, using windshield sun shades, and tinting windows to block out the sun. Some will also crack windows to let subtle airflow into the car while parked. In a TikTok with nearly 7,000 views, Bryce (@ recently discovered a new key fob feature with her Honda Civic that'll help her beat the heat this summer. New Feature or Just a New Discovery? In her post, Bryce finds out that she can roll down the windows using the key fob of her Honda Civic. While scrolling through TikTok, she found a video revealing this feature for Honda Civics. Bryce immediately reached for her key fob and went to the garage. 'If this works, this is going to be crazy,' she begins her video. She points the key fob at her car and presses unlock on her key fob twice with an extended hold on the second press. After patiently waiting to see what happens, she was in disbelief to see her Civic windows roll down. More on Honda 'Do People Not Read the Owner's Manual Anymore?': Woman Buys New Honda. Then She Tries Filling It Up With Gas Honda Wants to Make the 'World's Most Efficient' Hybrids This discovery left her hyped and even more in love with her Civic. While this was a new discovery for Bryce, some viewers mentioned that this isn't new. 'My 2010 Accord does this and when I first found out it did it I was so hype,' one TikTok commenter shared. 'Even my old 2007 Honda accord did this when I had it,' another commenter added. How to Roll Down Windows Using your Key Fob While each car brand will have a specific cadence and sequence to follow, here are some beginning places to search. First, check the owner's manual. The manual will provide the specific instructions needed to activate the key fob window roll-down. As some makes and models will vary, the manual is the best place to get correct information specific to your car. Now, if reading through the manual isn't your thing, try this. Click the unlock button once on your keyfob, then hold it again for anywhere from five to 10 seconds. While holding down the unlock button, see if the windows start rolling down. Once the windows are at the desired height, release the unlock button and press lock to stop the window from rolling down. What Are the Downsides to This Key Fob Feature? With any new features come some issues. One of the downsides to this key fob secret is that it's simply not commonly known among drivers. While this feature is great if you know about it, it's not always so great when you accidentally discover it. Multiple stories have been shared on Reddit and other forums about drivers coming back to their cars only to find the windows are down. As commenters note, these drivers likely unknowingly activated this key fob feature. This can happen when the key fob is sitting buried in a purse or deep down in pants pockets. Drivers have left cars in parking lots for hours with windows fully rolled down, only to hope nothing is gone or damaged. In addition, storms can sweep through at any moment, which would put a real damper on the day. While some drivers are excited to flex this feature off, others are irritated by it. Which side are you on? What Did Viewers Think? 'That's not crazy y'all what's crazy is that they built these cars to go over 300000 miles y'all now that's crazy,' one commented. 'Does nobody read their car's instruction manuals anymore?' a second added. 'Most cars nowadays do it, y'all just gotta figure out the sequence for your specific car,' a third shared. 'Took me 6 months to find out my car does this,' another driver added. Motor1 has contacted Bryce via TikTok direct message. We'll be sure to update this article if we get a response. Now Trending Man Fills Up His Truck. Then He Pulls Out a Trick for When the Handle Clicks and Stops Pumping Man Spots Chihuahua in a Ford With the Engine Off and Windows Rolled Up. What Should He Do? Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
USA Today
12 hours ago
- USA Today
Why were Waymo cars targeted during Los Angeles protests? What to know about them
Why were Waymo cars targeted during Los Angeles protests? What to know about them Waymo vehicles were set on fire during Los Angeles protests. Here's what to know about Waymo, its vehicles, and their vulnerability to fires. Show Caption Hide Caption LA protesters ignite Waymo taxis, see the remains Protesters vandalized and set Waymo autonomous taxis on fire amid anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles. Several Waymo driverless vehicles were destroyed during anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles. The flaming vehicles posed threats protestors may not have been fully aware of because of their unique design. First responders and protestors were likely exposed to dangerous chemical compounds that could be fatal in high concentrations. The image of burning Waymo driverless cars is becoming synonymous with the June 2025 Los Angeles protests. So, how did Waymo cars get to the scene of the protest in the first place and why were the vehicles being targeted? A Waymo spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY on June 9 that the company temporarily suspended its services in downtown Los Angeles "out of an abundance of caution." Here's how protestors used Waymo vehicles in the midst of a controversy over immigration enforcement that's left the country reeling. What are Waymo cars? Waymo is a company under the Alphabet (Google) umbrella that is developing driverless vehicle technology using cameras, radar and lidar sensors, and advanced computer systems. It launched a driverless ride-hailing service in several major cities. A Waymo car is a vehicle owned by the company and equipped with technology that is capable of self-driving. Passengers can summon Waymo vehicles to their location and ride in the vehicles to their intended destination without interacting with a driver. Where does Waymo operate? Phoenix, Arizona San Francisco, California Los Angeles, California Austin, Texas The self-driving ride hailing service will soon be available in Atlanta, Georgia and Miami, Florida, as well, according to the company website. It has been tested in over 15 American states. Waymo driverless cars targeted by protestors in downtown Los Angeles A YouTube video by Wall Street Journal News shows protestors swarming a burning Waymo driverless car that is ablaze. The vehicle is covered in anti-ICE slogans. A masked person is seen smashing the vehicle with a hammer. The vehicles were summoned to the scene, according to the Wall Street Journal News video above. Waymo disputes this, saying that the vehicles were present at the scene of the protests, not summoned with the intention of being set on fire. Their unique powertrain systems (motors and batteries) cause them to burn even hotter than internal combustion engine vehicles. Furthermore, EV batteries can easily overheat and ignite cars in extreme heat. Electric vehicle fires can be more difficult to put out than internal combustion engine vehicle fires. Lithium-ion batteries experience "thermal runway, a chemical process that isn't as easily extinguished as a gasoline fire in part because it doesn't require oxygen" according to MotorTrend. So, setting the Waymo driverless EVs on fire created an extremely burdensome situation for local authorities. "I think protests need to be peaceful period, and anytime it deteriorates into violence that is a problem and it absolutely messes with the overall message," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said during a press interview. How many Waymo cars were burned in Los Angeles during protests? At least five Waymo Jaguar I-Pace vehicles were destroyed during the Los Angeles protests. A new Jaguar I-Pace starts at a whopping $72,500. So, the total cost of the destroyed Waymo driverless vehicles could exceed $362,500 before accounting for the price of Waymo's autonomous driving technology like radar and lidar sensors. Waymo's self-driving technology could add $100,000 to the cost of a Jaguar I-Pace due to the price of multiple sensors, cameras, and advanced autonomous driving systems, according to Slate Magazine. If this estimate is accurate, the total damages to the vehicles could be close to $862,500. Why the Los Angeles Waymo car fires were so dangerous Lithium-ion battery fires weren't the only risk to Americans during the Los Angeles protests of 2025. hydrogen fluoride, a toxic and corrosive chemical compound, was also expelled from the burning Waymo driverless cars, said Scientific American. This chemical compound could cause a person to cough up blood in mere minutes. Inhaling high concentrations of hydrogen fluoride can be fatal, so the burning Waymo vehicles presented a deadly risk to those nearby. First responders to lithium-ion battery fires can develop breathing difficulties and throat burns while trying to extinguish the flames. Ultimately, the events that took place on June 8 have sparked a nationwide conversation involving the current administration's immigration policies, the protests, and the federal government's reaction to the protests.
The Drive
14 hours ago
- The Drive
Is This Some Weird Guy's Car Collection or an Insurance Fraud Dumping Ground?
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Sometimes, you watch a YouTube video that leaves you scratching your head. I found myself in just that scenario after being served this clip from Exploring With Josh—a creator with an affinity for abandoned places. In this video, he's checking out a neglected American property that is currently home to an incredibly diverse 'collection' of automobiles of varying ages. Is this an eccentric's abandoned collection or simply a dumping ground for local fraudsters? I've watched the video through twice and I still can't decide. Josh dedicates quite a bit of the video to telling the story of the home's last reported occupant, but the details are vague and given his penchant for exaggeration (virtually none of the cars in his video thumbnail even exist on this property, for example), I'd suggest taking the narrative with a grain of salt. The actual exploratory bits are where we find all the good stuff. And by good stuff, I mean weird stuff. Even if the locals have been using the property as an impromptu junkyard, I'd find it hard to believe that a random assortment of locals are looking to offload such high concentrations of quirky European cars. There are at least two vintage Alfas on the property (and potentially a third lurking beneath a car cover), along with an old Nissan Stanza and the garage-kept Lotus Esprit. Also in storage is a rather clean-looking Honda CB750. Exploring With Josh via YouTube If it stopped there, I could reasonably write this off as the former collection of a fellow car geek, but it doesn't, and I won't. Why? Well, while both the Volvo V50 and a Buick Regal TourX technically count as European wagons (the latter was an Opel, don't forget), they don't exactly fit in with the rest of the 'collection.' And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Next to that TourX, there's a 981 Boxster on bald tires under a car cover, and out behind the still-covered mystery vehicle lurks an ND Mazda Miata that looks conspicuously spotless. Exploring With Josh via YouTube The host notes the Miata's presence as somewhat anachronistic, but elsewhere in the video he suggests that the property has sat in this state for about eight years. If he's correct, that would technically put the ND in play; its first year on the market was 2015 (as a 2016 model). The Regal and 981 would likewise just fall within that window. Plausible? Sure. Likely? Hmm. Josh claims the previous owner of the property was born independently wealthy, which makes it plausible that all of the cars we see here belonged to him. Either way, I see a beautiful Pennsylvania Tudor Revival in desperate need of some TLC. If the cars come with it, so much the better. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@
