Rhode Island DUI Arrest Information and Defenses

If you were arrested for a DUI in Rhode Island, there is some important information that you should know about drunk driving charges in Rhode Island.

• First, a guilty plea on a DUI or breathalyzer refusal can have long time consequences for your driving privileges and can impact your employment. Do not plead guilty without first speaking to a DUI attorney.
  
  
• Second, if you refused to take a breathalyzer, you face the potential of having your license preliminary suspended by the court at your arraignment at the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal or Rhode Island District Court if you are charged with a second offense refusal.
  
  
• Third, you may have a defense to your case based on a lack of a Constitutional basis to stop your car. Under Rhode Island law, the police need reasonable suspicion to stop your vehicle in order to investigating whether you have been driving under the influence.
  
  
• Fourth, the observations of the officer may not provide probable cause to arrest you for DUI or provide enough evidence for the State to obtain a conviction. Once you have been stopped, police officers are trained to observe every action you make to determine whether you may be under the influence of alcohol. The police will observe how you pull your vehicle over, get out of your car, whether or not you use it for balance. The police officer will evaluate your appearance and will in almost all DUI cases state that your eyes were bloodshot and glassy, speech is slurred and an odor of alcohol was smelled on your breath.
  
  
• Fifth, the police report is not the final word as to what happened. Often, those arrested for DUI are upset after reading the police report from their case. It is not uncommon for the police officer to exaggerate the alleged facts or simply inaccurately recount the details of the incident.
  
  
• Sixth, there are many ways that Attorney DelSignore can assist you with your case, including obtaining a not guilty on your DUI charge or breathalyzer refusal, obtaining a reduction of the charge from a DUI to a reckless operation or minimizing license consequences. In many cases, there is favorable information that is in the police report that can help with your case and in some cases additional evidence that can help you defend your case that needs to be requested in court. Call Attorney DelSignore for a free consultation to help prepare your defense, 401–465–1611.