What statute defines DUI in Rhode Island?

R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2 is the controlling DUI statute in Rhode Island. You can read the current text on the official code site at webserver.rilegislature.gov.

What is the Rhode Island implied-consent law?

R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2.1 is the implied-consent provision. It sets out the consequences of refusing a chemical test after a lawful DUI arrest.

Rhode Island DUI Statutes: The Code Sections That Control Your Case

The statutes that control Rhode Island DUI cases

DUI in Rhode Island is defined by R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2, and the chemical-testing rules sit in R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2.1. Both are published in the official state code at webserver.rilegislature.gov, which is the only version that governs — summaries elsewhere, including ours, can lag amendments.

Rhode Island official code — DUI statute

Statutory text, definitions, BAC thresholds and sentencing ranges.

Implied-consent provision

What refusing a breath, blood or urine test costs you.

Statute at a glance

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.

First-offense exposure under R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2: $100–$500, up to 1 year of jail exposure, and a 6 months licence suspension. A first offense typically brings a fine, community service, suspension, and possible interlock.

What R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2 actually says

R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2(a) — driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor, drugs, toluene or a controlled substance, or a combination.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2 — tiered penalty levels distinguishing misdemeanor from felony grading by BAC and prior offenses.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2.1 — the separate civil offense of refusing a chemical test.

Charging documents cite the exact subsection, so check which one appears on your citation. The posted text on webserver.rilegislature.gov carries an effective date — amendments passed after it are not yet reflected.

Other Rhode Island sections that control the case

R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2.1

Refusal to submit to a chemical test.

R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2

The core driving-under-the-influence offense.

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.

Browse all Rhode Island ZIP codes.

Counties and cities using these Rhode Island resources

Counties

Cities

Other Rhode Island official resources

Rhode Island DUI Courts: Where Your Case Is Heard Rhode Island Driver Licensing After a DUI: Hearings, Reinstatement & SR-22

Frequently asked questions

What statute defines DUI in Rhode Island?: R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2 is the controlling DUI statute in Rhode Island. You can read the current text on the official code site at webserver.rilegislature.gov.
What is the Rhode Island implied-consent law?: R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2.1 is the implied-consent provision. It sets out the consequences of refusing a chemical test after a lawful DUI arrest.