A significant number of car accidents in the U.S. are due to alcohol-impaired driving. According to recent data from the National Safety Council (NSC), there were more than 13,500 people killed due to alcohol-impaired crashes in 2022. While this number is decreasing, driving under the influence (DUI) continues to be a massive concern in road safety. Most DUI charges are classified as misdemeanors. However, certain circumstances could aggravate them to felony charges. This offense involves more severe consequences, including fines, jail time, license suspension, vehicle confiscation, ignition i ..read more

Navigating a charge of driving under the influence (DUI) can be arduous, and dealing with a second offense could be more challenging. In Rhode Island, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .08% and above. It is also unlawful to drive under the influence of a controlled substance. Moreover, the state considers a DUI offense as a subsequent offense if it takes place within five years since the alleged offender committed their first violation. If you are currently facing a second DUI charge, how can its penalties affect your life, work, family and loved ones? Af ..read more

Rhode Island law prohibits the possession, manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance. It only exempts authorized entities like common carriers, public employees and medical professionals. In addition, the Uniform Controlled Substances Act details the penalties for distributing drugs to minors. In all instances, the alleged distributor should be aged 18 and above. While the supposed recipient must be below 18 and at least three years younger than the distributor. Schedule I and II substances The law imposes the greatest punishment to those who distribute Schedule I and II drugs, excludi ..read more

The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) is a little-known federal law that protects Rhode Island workers who are injured in the course of their employment in navigable waters. it also provides death benefits to dependents in the event that the worker’s injury is fatal. It is somewhat similar in scope to state workers’ compensation programs, but there are some differences. Who this act protects The LHWCA is an admiralty law that covers employees such as longshore workers, shipbuilders, ship-repairers, ship-breakers, and harbor construction workers who sustain injuries. The ev ..read more

Handling firearms and ammunition is a significant responsibility, especially when involving purchases. These transactions can have legal implications, requiring compliance and holding both sellers and buyers accountable. Implementing these rules may be crucial in ensuring only qualified individuals can possess and own these weapons. State regulations also impose restrictions on who can buy and handle these weapons, enforcing laws and age limits. In Rhode Island, the legal age to purchase firearms is 21. Knowingly selling these weapons to an underage individual could be a felony with sever ..read more

Driving while intoxicated by alcohol is a criminal offense wherever you go in the United States. It’s also against the rules for someone aged under 21 to drink alcohol. So, what happens if an underage driver is caught drunk behind the wheel of a motor vehicle? In Rhode Island, the rules for driving under the influence (DUI) are much stricter on underage drivers because these young drivers break two laws instead of just one.  But how do the DUI laws for underage drivers differ from the rules for adult drivers? Driving while impaired Rhode Island, like other U.S. states, has a “zero toleran ..read more

For an officer to charge a driver of driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Rhode Island, they must first determine if the driver is truly inebriated. They could ask the driver to participate in field sobriety tests or chemical tests. One such chemical test is the breath test, more popularly known as the breathalyzer test. It involves the driver blowing into a device that measures their breath alcohol content (BAC) levels. If the device detects at least .08% BAC from the driver, an officer can charge the person with DWI. Can you refuse a breath test if you’re pulled over for a suspected DWI? This ..read more

When we entrust our money to a bank, we expect its employees to handle the finances with the utmost integrity. However, the actions of bank employees can sometimes be misinterpreted as embezzlement. While these actions might be innocent, it’s crucial to understand why they could appear suspicious. Actions that look suspicious The following is a list of possible actions that an employee of a bank – including officers, directors, and agents – might take that others may misinterpret as embezzlement. They include: Unusual account transfers regardless of intentions Account balance adjustments Secur ..read more

If your vehicle is pulled over by Rhode Island police, it doesn’t mean that you have done anything wrong. It’s also possible that any citation that you receive might be reduced or dismissed in the future. However, it’s still important to be courteous and polite during the stop to minimize the risk of unnecessary citations or being taken into custody. Let the officer start the conversation It may be tempting to ask the officer what you did wrong or go into a diatribe about how you were wrongly stopped. However, all this is likely to do is put the officer on the defensive and potentially escalat ..read more

There’s a laundry list of reasons why driving under the influence (DUI) is dangerous. Intoxication impairs a driver’s judgment and decision-making ability. It can also slow a driver’s reaction time and alter their perception. All these things significantly raise the risk of causing a vehicular accident. To keep roads safe and discourage intoxicated driving, officers can charge drivers with DUI, which is a criminal offense. But there will be occasions when an intoxicated driver manages to cause an accident, leading to another person’s death. If this happens, the driver can face criminal charges ..read more