The RI licensing action explained
After a DUI arrest in Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (dmv.ri.gov) opens its own case against your driving privilege. It is administrative, it moves faster than the criminal case, and it is decided regardless of what the court later does with the charge.
Hearing requests, suspension notices, reinstatement fees and interlock paperwork.
Deadlines, forms and how the hearing is conducted.
How the RI agency runs the licence case
- The DMV Adjudication Office handles alcohol-related suspensions and the reinstatement that follows.
- The DMV publishes an alcohol reinstatement fee schedule for these suspensions.
- A separate adjudication fee schedule applies to licence adjudication matters generally.
- A court-ordered hardship licence requires interlock installation processed at the Adjudication Office.
Rhode Island licence facts
Rhode Island DUI law at a glance
Sourced from the Rhode Island code and state agency sites. Verify current text before relying on it.
- Offense name
- DUI (Rhode Island)
- Controlling statute
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2
- Implied consent
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2.1
- Per se BAC limit
- 0.08 (0.04 CDL, 0.02 or lower under 21)
- First-offense fine
- $100–$500
- First-offense jail exposure
- up to 1 year
- Licence suspension
- 6 months
- Ignition interlock
- Required on a first offense in most cases
- Trial court
- the District Court
- High-risk filing
- SR-22 for 3 years
A first offense typically brings a fine, community service, suspension, and possible interlock.
Getting the licence back
- Serve the full suspension or hard-suspension period the agency sets.
- Complete any ordered assessment, education or treatment programme.
- Install an approved ignition interlock device — Rhode Island requires one in most first-offense cases.
- Rhode Island requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before a licence is reinstated after a DUI conviction.
- Pay the reinstatement fee and any licence-issuance fee in full.
Fees and processing times change; confirm the current amounts on dmv.ri.gov before you travel to an office.
Rhode Island ZIP codes covered
These Rhode Island ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
Counties and cities using these Rhode Island resources
Counties
Other Rhode Island official resources
Frequently asked questions
- How long is a first-offense suspension in Rhode Island?
- A first DUI offense generally carries a 6 months suspension in Rhode Island. Reinstatement conditions, fees and any interlock requirement are set by the licensing agency.