DUI must-know facts for Rhode Island drivers
It is pretty much common knowledge that it is illegal in any state to operate a vehicle while over the legal limit of alcohol. Most states have set that legal limit at .08 BAC (Blood Alcohol Content). There are other areas of DUI in Rhode Island that every driver should know.
When drivers are pulled over for suspicion of driving under the influence, they are usually asked to submit to a breathalyzer test. Every driver has the right to refuse, but there is some information everyone should know before exercising this option.
Rhode Island has an implied consent law that states that all Rhode Island residents are expected to comply with any DUI tests administered by a police officer. A failure to comply with these tests can lead to harsher sentences with a DUI conviction.
It is important to consider this because Rhode Island has a ‘look back’ period of five years. That means the court can look back for as many as five years and consider your DUI conviction when resolving another case involving you. Although it is your right to refuse a breathalyzer test that refusal could come back to haunt you for years to come.
There is also a new law coming into effect in 2015 that every Rhode Island driver should know. Interlock devices will be used in the vehicles of repeat offenders as well as drivers who showed a BAC of 0.15 or over at the time of their arrest.
Interlock devices require drivers to pass a breathalyzer test before the car will start. The price for those devices is required to be paid by the offender. The lowest cost of a standard interlock device is a leasing option that starts around $65.00 per month. State law prohibits drivers from owning these devices and mandate that they must be leased.
DUIs can be very expensive, but if you know what mistakes to avoid, you could save yourself a lot of money in fines when all is said and done. However, just because you are arrested for DUI does not mean you are guilty right away.
A DUI attorney at Calvino Law Associates can help you put together the best possible defense for your DUI charge. We can also advise you on the best ways to reduce any penalties, fines and jail time. For an experienced DUI attorney in Providence or North Kingston, visit our downtown office or call today and speak directly to one of our lawyers.
