2026 Top Rated Rhode Island DUI Attorney
Free Consultation
A Newport DUI arrest is a misdemeanor case arraigned at Second Division District Court, 45 Washington Square, in the Murray Judicial Complex. Summer is when Newport Police enforcement peaks, and a chemical test refusal creates a second case at the Traffic Tribunal in Cranston. Attorney Rory Munns handles Newport cases from his Providence office.
A college student DUI in Providence is prosecuted like any other adult DUI at Sixth Division District Court, but a student also faces a separate school conduct process, questions about aid and housing, and a parent who wants answers the lawyer cannot always give. Drivers 18 to 20 who test between .02 and .08 fall under a non-criminal tier; .08 or higher is a standard misdemeanor DUI at any age.
A chemical test refusal hearing in Rhode Island is a civil hearing at the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal in Cranston where the officer testifies and the magistrate must make 4 findings under § 31-27-2.1(d). The driver has to request it in writing within 15 days, and the magistrate has to rule within 7 days of the hearing.
An under 21 DUI in Rhode Island splits into 2 tracks by test result. A .02 to under .08 result is a non-criminal driving while impaired violation with a short license suspension, and a .08 or higher result is a regular misdemeanor DUI. Drivers 18 to 20 go to District Court; drivers under 18 go to Family Court.
A DUI with an accident in Rhode Island stays a misdemeanor under § 31-27-2 if there is only property damage, but becomes a felony under § 31-27-2.6 when someone else suffers serious bodily injury (1 to 10 years) and under § 31-27-2.2 when someone dies (5 to 15 years). Felonies move from District Court to Superior Court, blood replaces breath as the key evidence, and the state must prove the impairment caused the harm.
A CDL DUI in Rhode Island triggers two cases: a criminal DUI charge and a separate commercial license disqualification under § 31-10.3-31. The commercial limit is .04, a first offense costs the CDL for at least 1 year (3 years with hazmat), and a second offense means lifetime revocation. Refusing the test and a DUI in a personal vehicle both disqualify.
An out-of-state license DUI in Rhode Island is prosecuted in Rhode Island District Court under Rhode Island law, and Rhode Island can suspend your privilege to drive here even though it cannot take a Massachusetts or Connecticut license. Your home state typically learns of a conviction through interstate reporting and applies its own penalties. You will need to appear in Rhode Island, and a refusal carries its own case at the Traffic Tribunal.
The first 72 hours after a Rhode Island DUI arrest are when evidence is either captured or lost. Write down everything you remember, save receipts and phone location data, stay off social media, and get a lawyer working on preservation letters and discovery requests before video and paperwork disappear.
A Providence DUI arraignment for a misdemeanor first or second offense is held in the Sixth Division District Court at the Garrahy Judicial Complex, One Dorrance Plaza. The charge is read, the defendant pleads not guilty, the judge sets release conditions, and a pretrial conference date is assigned. A chemical test refusal is a separate case at the Traffic Tribunal in Cranston.
DUI checkpoints in Rhode Island are illegal. The Rhode Island Supreme Court struck them down in Pimental v. Department of Transportation, 561 A.2d 1348 (R.I. 1989), under article I, section 6 of the state constitution, and the federal Sitz decision in 1990 did not change that. Police use saturation patrols and individual stops that require reasonable suspicion instead.
A first time domestic assault Rhode Island diversion resolution is one of the best possible outcomes for a first-offense defendant who qualifies. The reality is that diversion is available in some cases and not others, the framework varies by court and prosecutor, and there is no single statewide statutory diversion track for domestic assault. Criminal […]
The terms are used interchangeably in casual conversation, but domestic assault vs domestic battery Rhode Island analysis reveals two legally distinct concepts. Assault involves the threat of imminent harm. Battery requires actual physical contact. Both can be charged together, or either can stand alone. Criminal Defense Attorney Rory Munns pulls the distinction apart in every […]
The Rhode Island assault and battery penalties 2026 range from a misdemeanor with up to one year in jail to a twenty-year felony sentence depending on which subsection of R.I.G.L. Chapter 11-5 applies. Understanding the specific penalty tier tied to each charge is the first step in any defense strategy. Criminal Defense Attorney Rory Munns […]
A Rhode Island domestic assault protective order is a civil order issued under the Domestic Abuse Prevention Act that restricts the defendant's contact and conduct toward the petitioner. The order operates on a track parallel to any criminal case. It can be issued when there has been physical or sexual abuse, threats of violence, stalking, […]
Rhode Island self-defense law assault cases turn on a doctrine that is more restrictive than many defendants expect. Rhode Island is not a stand your ground state. The Rhode Island Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed the duty to retreat outside the home. The castle doctrine exists but is narrower than the popular understanding. Every self-defense […]
Rhode Island Superior Court trial preparation is a discipline. By the time a felony case gets to the trial calendar, the defense strategy is set, the exhibits are in binders, and the witness list is locked. What the defendant needs at that point is a practical checklist for the trial day itself. This page is […]
Learning how to fight domestic assault charges in Rhode Island starts with understanding what the state actually has to prove. Rhode Island does not have a standalone crime called domestic assault. It has a sentencing and procedural enhancement layer under R.I.G.L. section 12-29, the Domestic Violence Prevention Act, that attaches when the underlying offense is […]
The assault vs battery Rhode Island distinction confuses defendants, jurors, and even some newspaper reporters. The two words are often used interchangeably in ordinary speech, but Rhode Island law treats them as separate legal concepts with different elements and different evidentiary requirements. Attorney Rory Munns explains the actual legal distinction, how the state charges each […]
Rhode Island Superior Court plea bargaining is where most felony cases actually end. Trials get the attention, but the numbers say that better than nine out of ten Providence County felony cases resolve through a negotiated plea. Attorney Rory Munns spends more time at the plea negotiation stage than at any other, because the math […]
The Rhode Island assault and battery defense strategies that produce dismissals, reductions, and acquittals are not general talking points. They are specific motions, specific cross-examination sequences, and specific evidentiary attacks tied to the elements of the charge. Attorney Rory Munns treats each assault case as a defense playbook, applying the correct tools at each stage […]
A Rhode Island Superior Court arraignment is one of the most confusing mornings a defendant will ever spend, and most of that confusion is unnecessary. The room is unfamiliar, the calendar is long, and the actual moment at the podium lasts under two minutes. Attorney Munns walks clients through the exact sequence of that day […]
Rhode Island does not have a statutory per se blood test limit for THC. That single fact drives every cannabis DUI case that lands on Attorney Rory Munns' desk at 127 Dorrance Street in downtown Providence. Alcohol has a bright line at .08 BAC written into R.I.G.L. section 31-27-2. Marijuana does not. Prosecutors cannot walk […]
The Rhode Island Superior Court process 2026 looks different from prior years, and defendants moving through Providence County Superior Court right now are stepping into a court that has been reshuffled by administrative orders, executive orders, judicial appointments, retirements, and pending legislation. Attorney Rory Munns tracks these shifts in real time from her office at […]
Driving under the influence laws in Rhode Island treat alcohol and marijuana differently, and the differences matter for anyone facing a charge. Alcohol has a clear blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of 0.08 percent. Marijuana operates under a zero-tolerance standard with no specific nanogram-per-milliliter cutoff. Penalties, legal defenses, and the way impairment is proven also […]
The 2026 legislative session brought real movement on Rhode Island criminal law. Three changes matter most for anyone facing charges or trying to clear an old record. The Rhode Island criminal law updates 2026 cover expungement reform, a small but meaningful misdemeanor sentencing cut, and a shift to electronic filing for domestic violence and sexual […]
Losing your driver's license after a DUI makes everyday life much harder. Getting it back means following a specific process set by the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles. The steps depend on why your license was suspended, but the general path involves paying reinstatement fees, completing any required court actions, and meeting with DMV […]
Drivers in Rhode Island face a multi-court traffic enforcement system, with proposed legislation that could raise fines significantly in 2026. Knowing which court has authority over your ticket, what penalties may apply, and how license suspension works can help you respond right when you get a citation. This article covers the key facts about Rhode […]
Probation in Rhode Island is a prison sentence that has been suspended on condition the participant follows the rules and commits no further crimes. It may be ordered either in place of incarceration or after a period of imprisonment. The Rhode Island Department of Corrections Adult Probation and Parole supervises adults on probation or parole […]
A DUI arrest in Rhode Island starts a complex legal process with serious immediate penalties. Your license can be suspended before you even see a judge. Understanding the specific laws and defense options for 2026 is the first step to protecting yourself. This article explains the current landscape for Rhode Island DUI defense. We will […]
Providence DWI Lawyer Rory Munns Being charged with DWI in Rhode Island can be one of the most traumatizing experiences in your entire life. You may be confused and stressed when you imagine the hefty fines or even a possible jail term. The feeling can be frightening and a significant drain on both your resources […]
Boating Under The Influence in Rhode Island Like driving while drunk, boating under the influence in Rhode Island is a serious crime that can have fatal consequences. According to Operation Dry Water, a nationwide campaign devoted to raising awareness of BUI, alcohol use is the leading factor contributing to deadly boating accidents; it was involved […]
Why Hire a Private Criminal Defense Lawyer? Public Defender vs Private Attorney If you find yourself in the unfortunate position where you need legal representation in court, then you need to be sure you are in safe hands. You have the right to an attorney. It is advisable that you don't waive this privilege. Here […]
