What Happens If I Am Stopped By The Police For Driving Under The Influence?
If a police officer has reasonable grounds to believe that you are operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicating liquor, he/she may ask you to perform certain tests, known as field sobriety tests, to determine whether you are actually under the influence of an intoxicating liquor. The field sobriety tests vary in number and kind and each police department favors certain tests over others. The standardized field sobriety tests consist of the "oneleg stand" test, the "walk and turn" test, and the "horizontal gaze nystagmus" test. After completion of the field sobriety tests, the police officer may, based upon his or her observations, arrest you for driving under the influence, advise you of your constitutional rights and ask you to submit to a chemical test. Most police departments in Rhode Island use a breath test, although the police actually have the option of giving you either a breath test, a urine test, or a blood test. Under Rhode Island law, you have the right to refuse to take any of the chemical tests.
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