Drinking alcohol impairs your ability to make decisions.

If you were charged with Driving Under the Influence and need legal representation, please call our office or submit an inquiry online. We are here to answer any questions you have regarding this charge and the effect this charge may have on your ability to operate a motor vehicle. 

Further Information

The laws governing DUI offenses vary from state to state. In Rhode Island, a person is considered impaired by alcohol when their Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is at or above .08 percent. DUI charges can also be prosecuted on the grounds that a person was under the influence to the extent that it rendered them incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle.

In addition to the criminal charge of DUI, if you refuse the breathalyzer test at the request of the police, you would also be charged with the civil violation of Refusal to Submit to a Breathalyzer Test. 

We are here to answer any questions you may have regarding either the DUI charge or the Refusal to Submit to a Breathalyzer Test charge.  We can also discuss available options such as the installation of an interlock device and obtaining a Conditional Hardship License which allows you to operate a motor vehicle to and from work during the period of your license suspension.

For drivers under twenty-one (21) years of age who are charged with DUI, the amount of alcohol required to be detected in the person’s system is much less and depends upon the person’s age.

The laws and procedures in a DUI case can be complex and confusing. It is important to secure legal counsel immediately. There are several circumstances under which DUI penalties can be enhanced or reduced. Factors that will be considered include the following:

• Prior DUI convictions
• Excessive speeding
• Presence of children in the motor vehicle
• A High Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
• Whether there was an accident
• Whether any person sustained an injury as a result of the accident

A DUI stays on your criminal record for at least five (5) years after the conclusion of the sentence.  This can negatively affect future employment opportunities as well as automobile insurance costs.