Rhode Island Police Chiefs joined Newport community leaders and Members of law enforcement to highlight the dangers of impaired driving ahead of Newport’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade tomorrow.

"As a leader in the city and also in the hospitality and restaurant community. We want people to have fun, said Charlie Holder, Mayor of Newport. "We want people to celebrate, but we also want everyone to be safe, and the Ride the Wave Program is one of the best programs that we have to make sure that people have the opportunity to go out, enjoy themselves, and get home safely."
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"In the 22 years of leading sailors in the Navy, it was more difficult to lead sailors into the weekend than it was into battle," said Colin Kennedy, City Manager of Newport. "The same is true here, that’s because there is a tendency to want to over imbibe, and we want to say do that responsibly. Having a plan going into the weekend of whether it be a designated driver or a plan to moderate your consumption is important, and the Ride the Wave program is just as easy of a way to have and execute that plan."

"If you plan to drink alcohol or use cannabis, don’t get behind the wheel. Arrange a safe ride home ahead of time. Planning ahead takes just a few minutes, but it can save a life — including your own," said Chief Ryan Duffy, Vice President of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association and Chief of Police for Newport. "As we look forward to a festive St. Patrick’s Day here in Newport, we ask everyone to enjoy the holiday responsibly. Celebrate with friends, have a great time — but make sure that getting home safely is part of the plan."

Hakim Coggins, Founder of Newport Bridge and the Ride the Wave community initiative, spoke about their partnership with local establishments and Newport's public safety services to provide free rides home to people who need them. "Ride the Wave is simple - enjoy the parade, celebrate responsibly, and plan a safe ride home." For more information, call (401) 771-8555, visit newport-bridge.com, or scan a QR code at a local establishment.

"We're looking forward to a great day, said Dennis Sullivan, Chair of the Newport St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee. "Enjoy the parade and make a plan to get home safely."

"Our dedicated team has spent months planning for this Saturday to ensure smooth operation," said Deputy Chief Kevin A. Moreira of the Newport Police Department. "Our goal is for the headlines on Sunday to be about the 70 years of Irish heritage and community spirit, not to be about preventable accidents or arrests."

St. Patrick’s Day is Tuesday, March 17, and the days around it, are among the most deadly for impaired driving crashes. According to NHTSA, 284 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period from 2019 to 2023. In 2023 alone, during that holiday period, 63 people died in drunk-driving crashes.

BAT Mobile to deploy with extra patrols statewide

Police Departments across Rhode Island will have extra impaired driving patrols out from now through St. Patrick’s Day on Tuesday. On Saturday, March 14th, the BAT Mobile will also be out beginning at 6:00 pm in Middletown, following the Newport parade. Patrols from the Rhode Island State Police, Middletown, Portsmouth, Newport, Tiverton, Jamestown, Narragansett, North Kingstown, and South Kingstown will be processing suspected impaired drivers through the BAT Mobile. (Media tours of the BAT Mobile and interviews are available. B-Roll authorized for use: http://bit.ly/44W3J8j)

In 2023, of the traffic fatalities involving impaired drivers during the St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations, young drivers between the ages of 21 and 35 accounted for 35% of them (NHTSA).

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.

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Contact:

Cara Cromwell

(401) 440-0090

cara@cromwellpublicaffairs.com

"Don't Test Your Luck, Drive Sober" - Community Leaders Deliver St. Patrick's Day Safety Message in Newport, Highlight "Ride the Wave" and the BAT Mobile Middletown

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