Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri will sign legislation today eliminating what some claim is a major loophole in the state’s drunk driving laws. The new law increases the penalties for those who refuse to submit to a Breathalyzer test when they are pulled over for drunk driving. Before the new law took effect, the penalties for refusing a Breathalyzer test were significantly less than the penalties for DUI.
Carcieri and Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch announced in November that they would be submitting this legislation to close that loophole in state law as part of an effort end Rhode Island’s distinction of leading the nation in two categories: percentage of DUI-refusal cases and percentage of total highway deaths caused by drunken drivers.
Carcieri will be joined at the bill signing ceremony by Attorney General Lynch, Sen. Joseph Polisena of Johnston, who sponsored the Carcieri/Lynch bill in the Senate (S 2072), and Rep. J. Patrick O‚Neill of Pawtucket, who sponsored a separate version of the bill in the House (H 6700).
Source: Governor’s Office
Topics Legislation
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
US Appeals Court Rejects Challenge to Trump’s Efforts to Ban DEI 
Insurify Starts App With ChatGPT to Allow Consumers to Shop for Insurance 
Nine-Month 2025 Results Show P/C Underwriting Gain Skyrocketed 
BMW Recalls Hundreds of Thousands of Cars Over Fire Risk 
