Law enforcement agencies across Rhode Island arrested 54 people for driving under the influence during the Thanksgiving holiday period, according to the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association.
The arrests occurred between noon on Nov. 26 and 6 a.m. on Dec. 1, representing the combined efforts of all 38 municipal police departments and the Rhode Island State Police.
“Every impaired driver we removed from the roadway this Thanksgiving holiday period represents a potential tragedy that was prevented,” said Chief Thomas Oates, president of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association and Woonsocket chief of police. “Driving under the influence is not a mistake. It is a dangerous, illegal choice that puts everyone on the road at risk.”
Oates said law enforcement statewide remains committed to holding impaired drivers accountable.
A first-offense DUI in Rhode Island carries penalties including a possible jail sentence of up to one year, a mandatory license suspension of three to 18 months, mandatory community service of 10 to 60 hours, and fines ranging from $100 to $500. Additional fees can reach several thousand dollars.
Rhode Island law requires drivers to submit to a chemical test of blood, breath or urine. Refusing the test for a first offense can result in a license suspension of six months to one year, fines from $200 to $500, community service and mandatory attendance at a special course on driving while intoxicated.
