West Warwick DUI Arrest

As reported by Bryan Rourke in the January 7, 2011 edition of the Providence Journal, a West Warwick man was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in Connecticut.  Police officers responded to a call of a man speeding and clocked the man driving over 85 m.p.h.  The police used speed sticks in an attempt to slow the driver down. The man was finally stopped after crashing into the police cruiser.

In addition to the DUI charge, the man is also facing charges for reckless driving, driving without a license and eluding police. Under Rhode Island General Law 31-27-4.1, eluding police is defined as any person who in an attempt to elude or flee from a police officer in an emergency police vehicle in a high speed pursuit of the person, operates a motor vehicle at speeds greater than fifteen (15) miles per hour over the speed limit, or who causes property damage only in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000).

The penalties for eluding police include:

  (1) For the first conviction, may be subject to the following sanctions:

   (i) Up to one year incarceration at the adult correction institutions (A.C.I.) and a fine of five hundred dollars ($500) but not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000);

   (ii) License suspension of not less than ninety (90) days but not more than six (6) months and forfeiture of the motor vehicle.