Richards to be pardoned in Arkansas

Officials in the state of Arkansas are considering issuing rocker Keith Richards a pardon for a driving offence committed 31 years ago.

The Rolling Stone was cited for reckless driving there in 1975, and still has a criminal record in the state.

The Arkansas Parole Board has now approved an application for clemency, submitted on behalf of Richards by Governor Mike Huckabee.

If Huckabee, the bass player in a local band, signs the application before the middle of next month, the rocker will be cleared and the driving offence wiped from his record.

Richards was arrested in July 1975 after a police officer detected marijuana in the car during a traffic stop.

The guitarist and bandmate Ron Wood were driving through Arkansas from Memphis, Tennessee on their way to Texas.

Richards was later booked with reckless driving and possession of a concealed knife. The knife charge was dropped when Richards pleaded guilty to reckless driving and agreed to pay a $162 (€128) fine.

The governor pushed the pardon initiative after hearing that Richards had poked fun at police in Fordyce, where he was pulled over and arrested, during a concert in Arkansas in March.

Huckabee says: "I realised Keith Richards' (impression of Arkansas) was marred by a misdemeanour traffic stop."