BAT Mobile Deploys for Memorial Day Weekend Honoring Officer Ryan Bourque
The BAT Mobile will be deployed on Saturday night and Sunday night this Memorial Day weekend.
“This weekend, officers throughout the state are conducting targeted patrols to identify and apprehend impaired drivers. Deploying the BAT Mobile helps our officers work as efficiently and effectively as possible," said Colonel Michael E. Correia, Chief of Police in Barrington and President of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association. "As we continue this important work, we also remember why it matters. The loss of Officer Ryan Bourque ten years ago is a powerful reminder of the devastating consequences impaired driving can have on families, law enforcement, and entire communities. Our message is simple: make a plan and never get behind the wheel impaired.”
On Saturday, the BAT Mobile will be hosted by the Jamestown Police Department in collaboration with the Newport Police Department, the North Kingstown Police Department, and the Rhode Island State Police in honor of Officer Ryan Bourque on the10th anniversary of his death. He was killed on his way home from work at the Jamestown Police Department by an impaired driver on May 23, 2016. The BAT Mobile will be located at the base of the Newport Pell Bridge in Jamestown from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m.
On Sunday, May 24, the BAT Mobile will be hosted by the Providence Police Department, in collaboration with the Rhode Island State Police from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., at the intersection of Wickenden St. and Point St. in Providence.
VIDEO: BAT MOBILE B-Roll authorized for use: http://bit.ly/44W3J8j
Contact Cara Cromwell (401) 440-0090 to schedule an interview or a tour of the BAT Mobile.
Background on impaired driving
The first offense for driving under the influence of liquor or drugs carries several penalties:
Possible jail sentence of up to one year at the ACI.
Mandatory license suspension from three to eighteen months.
Mandatory community service from 10 to 60 hours.
Fines of not less than $100, nor more than $500
Fees can easily reach a few thousand dollars.
Rhode Island law requires you to submit to a chemical test of your blood, breath, or urine to determine the chemical content of your body fluids or breath.
If you refuse this testing, certain penalties can be imposed, including the following:
For a first offense, your Rhode Island driver’s license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle in this state can be suspended for six months to one year or modified to permit operation in connection with an ignition interlock device for a period specified by law; a fine from $200 to $500 can be imposed; and you can be ordered to perform 10 to 60 hours of community service and attend a special course on driving while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance and/or alcohol or drug treatment.
If you have had one or more previous offenses within the past five years, your refusal to submit to a chemical test of breath or urine at this time can have criminal penalties, including incarceration of up to six months for a second offense and up to one year for a third or subsequent offense, and can carry increased license suspension or ignition interlock period, fines, and community service.
###
Contact:
Cara Cromwell
(401) 440-0090
cara@cromwellpublicaffairs.com
