PROVIDENCE – Fifty-nine drivers in Rhode Island were arrested for driving under the influence over Labor Day weekend, according to the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association.
“Unfortunately, 59 individuals made the dangerous choice to drive impaired over Labor Day weekend, putting their lives and the lives of others at serious risk,” said Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas F. Oates, III, president of the association.
“I’m proud of the coordinated efforts by law enforcement across Rhode Island to hold these drivers accountable and keep our roads safe,” Oates said in a press release. “Impaired driving is no minor offense. We take it seriously, and so should everyone who gets behind the wheel.”
The 59 arrests represent the efforts of all 38 municipal police departments and the Rhode Island State Police, the association said. The arrests were made between noon on Friday, Aug. 29, and 6 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2.
The Rhode Island State Police reported making 21 of those arrests. Troopers also investigated 63 motor vehicle crashes and issued 377 citations for various traffic violations, the state police said.
How does Labor Day compare with July 4th?
Over the July 4th weekend, the association reported 57 arrests.
A first-time conviction for driving under the influence of liquor or drugs carries a possible jail sentence of up to one year and mandatory license suspension of three to 18 months, along with other possible penalties.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Police in RI arrest 59 for DUI over holiday weekend
