DUI enforcement at URI

Zero Tolerance Law (31-27-2.7)

If you are between the ages of 18 and 20, it is against the law to drive a vehicle with a blood alcohol level (BAL) above .02%. If you drink and drive, you could receive the following…

Fine of $250
30 hours of community service
Required to attend a special course on driving while intoxicated
Suspended driver’s license for 1-3 months

.08% Per se Law (31-27-2)

If you are 21 or older, it is against the law to drive a vehicle with a blood alcohol level (BAL) above .08%. The per se law means that a person can be charged on a test of BAL alone, without evidence of impairment. If you drink and drive, you could receive the following….

Fine between $100 and $500
10 to 60 hours of community service
Required to attend a special course on driving while intoxicated
Suspended driver’s license for 1-18 months
Imprisonment for up to 1 year

For people of all ages, penalties are more severe if a person has had more than one offense.

Make good choices

USE A DESIGNATED DRIVER

Instead of driving drunk and risking your life and the lives of the people in the car with you, use a designated driver.

Plan ahead in the night and pick which person is going to be the driver before you start drinking. Make sure that you also plan out where you are going as well as the duration.
If you are in a larger group that you know will not all fit in one car, make sure that you have more than one designated driver.
Take turns being the designated driver.

USEFUL LINKS

Watch Out for Drunk Drivers

GUIDE FOR DETECTING DRUNK DRIVERS AT NIGHT

These clues are listed in descending order of probability that the person observed is driving while intoxicated. Save yourself from an accident. Pull over. Alert local or State Police if you have a cell phone.

Turning with a wide radius
Straddling the center of the road
Appearing to be drunk
Almost striking an object or vehicle
Weaving
Driving on other than a designated roadway
Swerving
Driving more than 10 mph below the speed limit
Stopping without cause in a traffic lane
Following too closely
Drifting
Tires on center of left-hand lane
Braking erratically
Driving into opposing or crossing traffic
Signaling is inconsistent with driving actions

ARREST

If an officer sees a person committing these actions, they have the right to pull them over. If they fail the sobriety tests then the officer has the right to arrest the person.

If someone is pulled over and the officer finds incriminating evidence (such as empty alcoholic containers or strong odor) then officer has the right to arrest the individual on the basis of probable cause.