As reported by W. Zachary Malinowski in the July 27, 2012 edition of the Providence Journal, Senator Whitehouse's son entered a plea to a drunk driving charge. He was arrested last week by the Middletown Police Department. He submitted to the chemical test and had readings of .09. The legal limit is .08. He received a $250.00 fine, thirty (30) hours of community service, three (3) months loss of license and attendance at DUI school.
Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws 31-27-2, drunk driving is defined as whoever drives or otherwise operates any vehicle in the state while under the influence of any intoxicating liquor, drugs, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in chapter 28 of title 21, or any combination of these, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor except as provided in subdivision (d)(3) and shall be punished as provided in subsection (d) of this section.
The penalties for drunk driving are based on chemical test results. The penalties for BAC readings between .08 and .10 include a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than three hundred dollars ($300), shall be required to perform ten (10) to sixty (60) hours of public community restitution, and/or shall be imprisoned for up to one year. The sentence may be served in any unit of the adult correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge and/or shall be required to attend a special course on driving while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance; provided, however, that the court may permit a servicemember or veteran to complete any court-approved counseling program administered or approved by the Veterans' Administration, and his or her driver's license shall be suspended for thirty (30) days up to one hundred eighty (180) days.
If you or a family member have been charged with drunk driving, refusal to submit to a chemical test, or other alcohol offenses, please allow Attorney Robert H. Humphrey's reputation, experience and skill to successfully guide you through the legal process. Please contact Attorney Robert H. Humphrey, Esq., at 401-816-5862 or e-mail him at rhh@rhumphreylaw.com.