An effort to give Arkansas legislators special treatment from law enforcement during and between sessions has died.

Rep. Charles Ormond, D-Morrilton, sponsored a bill that sought to exempt lawmakers from being taken into custody for misdemeanors during session – regular or special. The leniency would have extended to the two days before and after such sessions begin and end.

The bill – HB1492 – remained in the House Rules Committee at the close of the session last month, effectively killing it for the year.

Ormond’s bill also would have prevented law-breaking legislators from being taken into custody on misdemeanors while traveling back and forth to Little Rock for committee meetings between sessions.

According to the Arkansas News Bureau, two years ago, Ormond asked the state attorney general whether lawmakers can be ticketed and arrested when traveling to and from legislative sessions. The attorney general said lawmakers lacked special privileges and they could be ticketed and arrested like everyone else.

Ormond said at the time he asked for the opinion because he and his counterparts in the Capitol thought they were immune from speeding tickets during the session.

Any member of law enforcement who fails to abide by the provision would have faced a fine of $100, payable to the “injured party.”