53 DUI arrests made in Rhode Island during New Year’s holiday

Law enforcement agencies across Rhode Island made 53 arrests for driving under the influence during the New Year’s holiday enforcement period, according to the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association.

The enforcement window ran from noon on December 31, 2025, through 6:00 a.m. on January 5, 2026, and involved all 38 municipal police departments along with the Rhode Island State Police.

Statewide, police arrested more than 3,200 people for DUI in 2025, highlighting what officials say remains one of the most serious threats to public safety on Rhode Island roadways.

“While many people were celebrating the New Year, officers were working to identify and stop impaired drivers,” said Thomas F. Oates III, president of the association. He credited coordinated enforcement efforts across the state for removing impaired drivers from the roads and emphasized that DUI offenses carry real and lasting consequences.

What a DUI can cost in Rhode Island:

A first DUI offense can include:
• Up to one year in jail
• License suspension from 3 to 18 months
• 10–60 hours of community service
• $100–$500 in fines, plus additional fees that can total thousands

Drivers are also required by law to submit to chemical testing. Refusing a test can result in license suspension, fines, mandatory programs, and if it’s a repeat offense possible jail time.

Officials say enforcement efforts will continue all year to reduce impaired driving and keep Rhode Island roads safer.