Rhode Island traffic safety leaders were joined today by two-time Super Bowl Champion Dan Koppen for a joint news conference to highlight the importance of enjoying Super Bowl Sunday responsibly and making a plan to have a safe and sober ride home.

"On a football team, we talk all the time about accountability. Your choices don’t just affect you — they affect the whole team,” said Dan Koppen, former Patriots player and Head Football Coach for LaSalle Academy. “Driving impaired is the same thing. It’s not just your life at risk — it’s your friends, your family, your neighbors, the kid driving home from practice, the parent heading home from work. One decision can change a lot of lives forever.”

"When the game ends and the celebrations wind down, the most important drive of the night begins — the drive home, " said Gabrielle Abbate, Administrator for Policy and Community Affairs, Rhode Island Office of Highway Safety. "A whistle will signal the end of the game—but not the end of responsibility. Let it be the reminder that the night is over, and it’s time to make the safe choice."

Police Departments across Rhode Island will have extra patrols out for Super Bowl Sunday. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Super Bowl Sunday is consistently one of the deadliest days for alcohol-impaired driving, with roughly 45–48% of traffic fatalities involving impaired drivers, significantly higher than a typical Sunday.

"We're all cheering for a Patriots win, but everyone wins with a safe ride home," said Colonel Michael Correia, Vice President of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association and Barrington Chief of Police. "We want everyone to enjoy the game and enjoy time with friends, so if you make a plan to drink alcohol or use cannabis, plan ahead for a sober ride home. Designate a driver, call rideshare or stay where you are, but don't risk driving impaired."

"At MADD, we are also part of a team. Our team includes our staff, our partners at RIDOT, the Attorney General’s Office, the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association, our legislators, our community partners, and our victims and survivors," Wesley Pennington, Program Director for MADD Rhode Island. "Together, we are united behind one message: plan ahead and take care of each other. So, before kickoff, make a plan. And if you see someone who shouldn’t be driving, step in and stop them."

For Super Bowl Sunday, MADD is partnering with Uber to provide a 25% discount for scheduled rides. Use code MAKEAPLAN26 and save 25% when you plan ahead.

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