Adult DUI penalties — Rhode Island Permit Test

Adult DUI penalties on the Rhode Island permit test — 6 rules, each with the reason behind it and a question on it while it is fresh.

The rules

For a driver 21 or older, a first DUI at a BAC of 0.08% to 0.1% brings a 30 to 180 day license suspension.

Even a first DUI just over the limit can cost half a year of driving.

30 – 180 day license suspension

Rhode Island Driver’s Manual, p.63

For a driver 21 or older, a first DUI is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in prison.

A first drunk-driving arrest can mean a criminal record and time behind bars.

BAC: 0.08% - 0.1% 1st violation – Misdemeanor

Rhode Island Driver’s Manual, p.63

For a driver 21 or older, a first DUI at a BAC of 0.15% or above brings a 3 to 18 month license suspension.

The drunker the driver, the longer he stays off the road.

3 – 18-month license suspension

Rhode Island Driver’s Manual, p.63

An adult's second DUI within 5 years at 0.08% to 0.15% requires an ignition interlock system for 1 to 2 years after the sentence.

A device that checks the driver's breath keeps a repeat offender from starting the car drunk.

Use of ignition interlock system for 1 – 2 years

Rhode Island Driver’s Manual, p.63

An adult's third DUI within 5 years is a felony.

A driver who keeps driving drunk ends up treated like any other serious criminal.

3rd or subsequent violation (within a 5-year period) – Felony

Rhode Island Driver’s Manual, p.63

A third or later DUI within 5 years can include seizure of the vehicle by the state.

Taking the car away keeps a repeat drunk driver from simply driving it again.

Seizure of the vehicle by the state

Rhode Island Driver’s Manual, p.63

On the test

What license suspension does an adult face for a first DUI at 0.08% to 0.1%?

30 to 180 days. Even a first DUI just over the limit can cost half a year of driving. Rhode Island Driver’s Manual, p.63: “30 – 180 day license suspension”

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Where these come from

Every rule here is checked against Rhode Island Driver’s Manual, published by the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles, and against the state code itself. Last checked 2026-10-04.