Recent Posts in DUI Category

Can I Choose My Chemical Test if I'm Arrested for DUI?

Rhode Island police have three chemical tests they can use to determine if you have been driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Police are legally allowed to test your: Breath Blood Urine In most cases, Rhode Island police officers will elect to issue a breath or blood test if they suspect a driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol . You might be wondering if you have the right ...

How Do I Beat a DUI?

Defending DUI Charges in Rhode Island At The Law Office of Thomas C. Thomasian, Esq., our team of legal professionals is committed to helping clients who have been accused of driving under the influence. When it comes to DUI charges , it is crucial to take immediate steps to protect your driver’s license and your freedom. DUIs carry severe penalties that can substantially impact your life, which ...

5 Tips to Avoid DUI on Halloween

Avoid a Halloween DUI It’s almost Halloween weekend! Which means barhopping vampires, zombies and werewolves will be out in full force. Whether you plan on barhopping or hitting up a few house parties, know that police departments across Rhode Island will be patrolling the streets for irresponsible partygoers choosing to drink and drive. If you plan on heading out decked in your spookiest, ...

Will I Be Going to Jail for my Rhode Island DUI?

Getting arrested for a DUI can be a frightening and overwhelming experience. You could potentially face severe penalties, such as license suspension, fines, community service, and possibly jail time. One of the first questions our Rhode Island DUI attorney is always asked is, “Am I going to jail for my DUI charge?” It is important to understand that when you are charged with a DUI in Rhode Island, ...

Benefits of Hiring a DUI Attorney

While many people choose to represent themselves to save money, more often than not the suspect will end up paying even more money in fines and spending more time in jail. The prosecutor will have a huge advantage and can easily seek the maximum penalties without challenge. Individuals charged or accused of driving under the influence (DUI) should never face these charges in court without an ...

The Holidays & DUI

During the holiday season, more people will be out eating, drinking, and celebrating this time of year. However, the odds of getting arrested and charged with a DUI in Rhode Island are higher than usual. In fact, alcohol-related deaths occur more frequently from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day compared to the rest of the year. Law enforcement increases their numbers patrolling the streets, as well ...

Taking Care of Your Child after a DUI Arrest

Driving under the influence can be a negligent and dangerous act, that can result in thousands of deaths and countless injuries annually. However, those who are arrested and charged with a DUI are people as well – individuals with families, jobs, and lives. How does getting arrested for a DUI affect how you take care of your children? The following are the possible family situations you may face ...

Ignition Interlock Devices Prevent DUI Fatalities

DUI accidents cause thousands of deaths in the United States every year. In order to prevent these fatalities from occurring at a frequent rate, many states throughout the nation are making it mandatory for individuals convicted of a DUI to have ignition interlock devices (IID) installed in their vehicles, even if it is their first offense. According to a study conducted by the University of ...

New Test Can Determine Marijuana DUI

When a person arrested for a DUI in Rhode Island is under the influence of alcohol, police officers can easily determine the degree of intoxication with a breathalyzer and BAC testing. However, it is not so simple when it comes to measuring how much marijuana affects an individual’s driving ability, since THC (active ingredient in marijuana) can stay in the bloodstream for a long period of time. ...

Diet Drink Mixers Lead to DUI

With Halloween fast approaching, many partygoers ought to know their diet drink mixers could lead them to being busted for DUI. According to a study published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, the diet mixer and alcohol combination could leave people more drunk than if they had mixed with the full sugar counterparts. The study tested a group of 20 participants with equal ...

College DUI Could Damage Your Future

Many college students spend a significant amount of time attending classes, working on assignments, or attending club events. The stress of juggling so many responsibilities can be overwhelming and many college students turn to binge drinking at house parties to let off steam. These parties may be fun, but unfortunately, many students drink far more than they normally would due to how accessible ...

Labor Day DUIs

Labor Day Weekend Means a Spike in RI DUIs According to the National Safety Council, Labor Day weekend is one of the deadliest weekends for motorists. Last Labor Day, America saw close to 400 fatalities. This year, Rhode Island police will be teaming up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the Drive Sober campaign. Beginning on August 19 through September 5, the Rhode Island ...

Tips to Avoid Getting a DUI

If you’ve been charged with a DUI before, the traumatizing experience can make you think twice about sitting behind the wheel after drinking again. However, for those who have yet to go through this overwhelming ordeal, they may feel compelled to take the risk until it’s too late. The best way to avoid a DUI is to not do anything to get yourself in that situation in the first place. But if you do ...

What to Do If You Are Arrested for a DUI

In Rhode Island, getting pulled over due to being suspected of a DUI can be a frightening and overwhelming process. A DUI can result in an extensive jail sentence, costly fines, a suspended license, and a permanent mark on your criminal record. If you are pulled over by police at night, the officer will be looking for any indications of intoxication or impairment. There is a possibility that law ...

Underage DUIs

Those charged with DUI under the age of 21 fall into a special category called underage DUI. In Rhode Island, the bar for blood-alcohol concentration, or BAC, is 0.02% as opposed to 0.08% for those above 21 years of age. While not a criminal offense, a person may still be punished with: $250 fine and 30 days of community restitution Suspension of driver’s license for one to three months and ...

Arrested New Year's Eve for DUI?

During 2015, drunk driving deaths were just shy of 40% of all traffic deaths in Rhode Island and Rhode Island State Police have made well over 400 DUI arrests already this year. Efforts to crack down on drunk driving has led police departments to increase enforcement for the upcoming New Years’ Eve holiday, named Operation Blue R.I.P.T.I.D.E. (Rhode Island Police Teaming for Impaired Driving ...

Can I be arrested for DUI for taking prescription medication?

Rhode Island is one of several states with per se laws with regard to driving under the influence of prescription medication . Operating a motor vehicle with any detectable amount of prescription drugs in your system can get you arrested. Many types of prescription drugs can have a sedative effect rending you unable to react quickly and increasing your chances of causing an accident. Whether the ...