- Arkansas prosecutors say Parkin police used traffic enforcement more for revenue than safety.
- Officers are now banned from issuing speeding tickets on state and federal highways.
- Violating the order could mean misdemeanor charges for every citation issued.
For years, small towns accused of being “speed traps” have insisted they were simply keeping roads safe. In Parkin, Arkansas, prosecutors say that excuse no longer holds up. The tiny Cross County town has now been ordered to stop issuing speeding tickets on state and federal highways inside city limits after an Arkansas State Police investigation concluded the department was abusing its authority.
According to a letter dated April 23 from First Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Todd Murray, the Parkin Police Department was enforcing traffic and criminal laws primarily to generate money rather than protect the public. A 2024 audit found the city collected $284,752 in fines and related revenue. For a town as small as Parkin, that number raises obvious questions about whether ticket books were doing more work than actual policing.
More: What’s Your Secret To Dodging Speed Traps?
According to KAIT, the state launched its investigation in 2024 after receiving repeated complaints from drivers about what Murray described as “abusive ticketing practices.” He also pushed back against the city’s claim that it had not violated Arkansas’ Speed Trap Law.
In fact, he noted Parkin’s reputation isn’t exactly new. The town had already gained attention as far back as 2007 in a television report. In fact, if anyone needed confirmation of the practice, Google Maps appears to show what may very well be a Parkin officer in a Ford Crown Victoria parked up at a defunct fuel station at the main intersection in town.
As a result, Parkin officers are officially prohibited from patrolling federal and state highways within city limits through December 31, 2030. That’s when Murray’s current term ends. Any officer who ignores the sanction and continues issuing citations on those roads could face a misdemeanor charge for every single summons written. We’re not just talking about speeding tickets either. Parkin officers can’t cite drivers for anything if they’re on a federal or state highway.
That said, locals aren’t losing legitimate law enforcement coverage. Both the Arkansas State Police and the Cross County Sheriff’s office will patrol the affected area instead.
