Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Where is Sheriff’s Department located?
A: The Sheriff’s Department is located at 1750 Meyers Ave. Our telephone number is 870-793-8838.
Q: Where is the Independence County Jail?
A: The county jail is located at 569 W. Main St. (on lower Main St.). The county jail telephone number is 870-612-6880.
Q: What is the Sheriff’s Department jurisdiction?
A: Our jurisdiction covers the entire area of Independence County. This includes the City of Batesville, which no longer has a police department. The Sheriff’s Department assumes primary law enforcement over the city by the Metro agreement between the county and the city.
Q: What is the Sheriff Department’s email address?
A: You may send your email to webmaster@independencesheriff.org and it will be forwarded to the appropriate person. Our email address is not monitored on a 24 hour basis.
Q: How can I get a copy of an accident or incident report?
A: Copies of incident may be picked up at the front window of the Criminal Investigation building at the Sheriff’s Department. Accident reports may be picked up at front window of the station lobby. Reports are available between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM Tuesday through Friday only. There is a $10 charge per report. We do not have copies of Arkansas State Police reports.
Q: I have had a traffic accident, what should I do now?
A: There are several things you must do if you have been involved in a traffic accident. Most of these questions are answered in our accident information brochure, which you can download by clicking here (it is in .pdf format and requires Adobe® Reader® to view it).
Q: I received a traffic ticket, can I pay it at the Sheriff’s Department?
A: Yes. You may pay a traffic ticket at the front window of the Sheriff’s Department main building Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM. You may pay cash, check, or money order.
Q: Is there a phone number I can call to check on hazardous road conditions, especially during winter weather?
A: Yes. The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department operates a road condition hotline. The number is 1-800-245-1672.
Q: Do you have copies of driver’s license test manuals?
A: Yes, they are available in English and Spanish. You pick one up at the front window of the Sheriff’s Department main building Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM.
Q: When can I take a driving test?
A: Driver’s Tests are given every Monday and Thursday. The written tests are given between 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The road test is given between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM. You must be signed in by 3:00 PM to take a road test. Bring two forms of identification, one of which must be a birth certificate. The tests are given at the Batesville Fire Department at Fourth and College Sts.
Q: What about a commercial driver’s license test?
A: Call 870-523-4849 for more information.
Q: I know who a suspect is in a crime. Do you have a telephone number where I can call in a tip?
A: Yes. Call 870-793-8878 between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM. You may remain anonymous.
Q: How do I report child abuse or neglect?
A: If the situation is an emergency dial 911. Otherwise, if you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected, call the child abuse and neglect hotline at 1-800-482-5964.
Q: What is the purpose of the Most Wanted program?
A: The purpose of the program is to solicit leads from the public on persons wanted on felony warrants. We recognize the value of any assistance we receive from the public.
Q: What criteria are used to decide who goes on the Most Wanted list?
A: The person must be charged with a felony warrant and the charge must be for a violent crime, narcotics violations, crime against property and any other crime deemed to be of a serious nature. Pick-up orders for non-payment of child support may be also placed on the list. The list is not ranked and the number of persons listed varies as circumstances warrant.
Q: I purchased a new vehicle, when do I have to get a license plate?
A: Arkansas state law requires that you get a license plate within 30 days of the purchase date of the vehicle.
Q: What about liability insurance on my vehicle?
A: Arkansas state law requires that any motor vehicle driven on the public roadways be covered by a liability insurance policy, and proof of that must be carried in the vehicle at all times.
Q: May I discharge a firearm within the city limits of Batesville?
A: No, discharging a firearm within the city limits is prohibited by city ordinance.
Q: May I discharge fireworks within the city limits of Batesville?
A: No, discharging fireworks within the city limits is prohibited by city ordinance.
Q: Am I required to have address numbers on my house or business?
A: Inside the city limits of Batesville, yes. Batesville City Ordinance requires that homes and businesses have their address numbers conspicuously displayed. Numbers on homes need to be at least four inches in height and six inches in height on businesses. However, it is a good idea wherever you live to have your house number prominently displayed in front of your residence so emergency responders can quickly find you.
Q: When is the juvenile curfew?
A: The juvenile curfew in Independence County is 10:30 PM to 5:30 AM Sunday through Thursday. On Fridays, Saturdays, and when public school is out for Christmas vacation, the juvenile curfew is 1:00 AM to 5:30 AM.
Q: What are the requirements of the seat belt law?
A: Arkansas law requires the driver and front seat passenger to wear a seat belt.
Q: What are the safety requirements for children in vehicles?
A: Arkansas law requires children under six years of age and weigh less than sixty pounds to be seated in child safety seats. If the child weighs at least sixty pounds or is between six and fifteen years old, the child must be wearing a seat belt.
Q: May a child ride in the back of a pickup truck?
A: No. (see above)
Q: I’m thinking about tinting the windows on my vehicle, what are the legal requirements?
A: There are certain legal specifications in tinting your vehicle’s windows in accordance with state statutes. The front driver’s side window and front passenger window tint must be at least 25% net light transmission or higher. The side windows behind the driver and the rear window tint must be at least 10% net light transmission or higher. You may place a strip of tinting material on the windshield but it may extend only five inches down from the top.
Q: How can I find out if there are any registered sex offenders living in my neighborhood?
A: You can find out about the local sex offender registry by clicking here.
Q: I’m having trouble with viewing your web pages correctly, what should I do?
A: You need to set the screen resolution on your computer to 800 x 600 pixels. You may do this by right-clicking on your desktop; in Windows this will bring up display properties and then click on the display tab.
