108 Arrested for DUI During New Year's Holiday Period

During the New Year's Holiday period (December 27, 2024 to January 5, 2025), law enforcement across Rhode Island arrested 108 individuals for Driving Under the Influence. This figure represents the combined efforts of all 38 municipal police departments and the Rhode Island State Police.

"I'm proud of the work that our police officers are doing to keep our roadways safe, but at the same time, these numbers are deeply concerning," said Colonel Bradford Connor, President of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association and Warwick Chief of Police. "Driving under the influence is never acceptable, and our message is clear: if you choose to drink or use cannabis and drive, you will be caught, and you will be arrested. This holiday season, 108 people learned that the hard way and will spend the next months - and years - dealing with the consequences."

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