{
 "slug": "rhode-island",
 "importedOn": "2026-08-29",
 "verified": true,
 "agencyName": "Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (Department of Revenue)",
 "firstOffenseIidNote": "Threshold: BAC of 0.15 or above (or under the influence of drugs). Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2(d)(1)(iii), for a first offense with BAC .15 or above the sentencing judge or magistrate 'shall prohibit that person from operating a motor vehicle ... that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system and/or blood and urine testing as provided in § 31-27-2.8.' For a first offense below .15 (§ 31-27-2(d)(1)(i)–(ii)) the judge or magistrate 'may' impose the interlock (discretionary). Separately, § 31-27-2.8(b) lets any mandatory suspension be reduced 'upon request' by imposition of an interlock, and § 31-27-2.8(c) provides that a hardship license 'shall only be granted in conjunction with the installation of an ignition interlock device and/or blood and urine testing.' The interlock is ordered by the court, not the DMV; the DMV adds the restriction to the license.",
 "sr22Note": "The RI DMV's GU-1338 Special Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate page states: 'Please be advised that Financial Responsibility (SR-22) is no longer required by the State of Rhode Island.' The GU-1338 certificate is required only for certain business plate types and minors registering vehicles; a DUI conviction is not among the listed triggers.",
 "evidence": {
  "agencyName": {
   "url": "https://dmv.ri.gov/adjudications-suspensions/alcohol-related-license-suspensions/hardship-licenseignition-interlock",
   "quote": "The Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles only ensures that the hardship and interlock restrictions are added to the Rhode Island driver’s license."
  },
  "statuteCitation": {
   "url": "https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-27/31-27-2.8.htm",
   "quote": "§ 31-27-2.8. Ignition interlock system and/or blood and urine testing imposed as a part of sentence — Requirements."
  },
  "statuteUrl": {
   "url": "https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-27/31-27-2.8.htm",
   "quote": "R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2.8"
  },
  "dmvVendorListUrl": {
   "url": "https://dmv.ri.gov/adjudications-suspensions/alcohol-related-license-suspensions/hardship-licenseignition-interlock",
   "quote": "The following companies are currently certified in Rhode Island to lease, sell and install ignition interlock systems. Each provider markets a different device and each has their own fees and policies."
  },
  "firstOffenseIid": {
   "url": "https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-27/31-27-2.htm",
   "quote": "The sentencing judge or magistrate shall prohibit that person from operating a motor vehicle, pursuant to subsection (d)(9) or (d)(10) of this section, that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system and/or blood and urine testing as provided in § 31-27-2.8."
  },
  "firstOffenseIidNote": {
   "url": "https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-27/31-27-2.htm",
   "quote": "The person’s driving license shall be suspended for a period of three (3) months to twelve (12) months. ... The sentencing judge or magistrate may prohibit that person from operating a motor vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system as provided in § 31-27-2.8."
  },
  "iidDurationFirst": {
   "url": "https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-27/31-27-2.8.htm",
   "quote": "(1) For a violation of § 31-27-2(d)(1), a person shall be subject to a minimum thirty-day (30) license suspension and an imposition of an ignition interlock system and/or blood and urine testing for three (3) months to one year."
  },
  "iidDurationRepeat": {
   "url": "https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-27/31-27-2.8.htm",
   "quote": "(3) For a violation of § 31-27-2(d)(2), a person shall be subject to a minimum forty-five-day (45) license suspension and an imposition of an ignition interlock system and/or blood and urine testing for a period of six (6) months to two (2) years."
  },
  "sr22Required": {
   "url": "https://dmv.ri.gov/registrations-plates-titles/registration/minor-gu-1338-insurance",
   "quote": "Please be advised that Financial Responsibility (SR-22) is no longer required by the State of Rhode Island."
  },
  "reinstatementFee": {
   "url": "https://dmv.ri.gov/adjudications-suspensions/adjudication-office/adjudication-fees",
   "quote": "Adjudication License Reinstatement and Refusals (DUI) $353.50"
  },
  "approvedVendors": {
   "url": "https://dmv.ri.gov/media/2856/download?language=en",
   "quote": "RI Certified Ignition Interlock Service Providers and Devices Service Provider: #1 A LifeSafer of Rhode Island ... 1A Smart Start, LLC ... Alcohol Detection Systems ... Guardian Interlock ... Intoxalock ... Low Cost Interlock ... Sens-O-Lock of America"
  },
  "costNotes[0]": {
   "url": "https://dmv.ri.gov/adjudications-suspensions/adjudication-office/adjudication-fees",
   "quote": "All fees listed below include $3.50 technology surcharge. ... License Reinstatement and Refusals (DUI) $353.50"
  },
  "costNotes[0]_pdf": {
   "url": "https://dmv.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur556/files/documents/forms/license/HARDSHIP-LICENSE-INSTRUCTIONS.pdf",
   "quote": "Payment of Reinstatement Fees (License $352.50/Registration $252.50)"
  },
  "costNotes[1]": {
   "url": "https://dmv.ri.gov/adjudications-suspensions/adjudication-office/adjudication-fees",
   "quote": "Adjudication Ignition Interlock Device $100.00"
  },
  "costNotes[2]": {
   "url": "https://dmv.ri.gov/adjudications-suspensions/adjudication-office/adjudication-fees",
   "quote": "Adjudication Registration Reinstatement $253.50"
  },
  "costNotes[3]": {
   "url": "https://dmv.ri.gov/adjudications-suspensions/adjudication-office/adjudication-fees",
   "quote": "Adjudication Alcohol Education $405.00"
  },
  "costNotes[4]": {
   "url": "https://dmv.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur556/files/documents/forms/license/HARDSHIP-LICENSE-INSTRUCTIONS.pdf",
   "quote": "Payment of $27.50 to update license to add interlock restriction"
  },
  "costNotes[4]_feesTable": {
   "url": "https://dmv.ri.gov/licenses-permits-ids/drivers-licenses/license-fees",
   "quote": "License Duplicate License $28.50"
  },
  "hardshipRequiresInterlock": {
   "url": "https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-27/31-27-2.8.htm",
   "quote": "A hardship license shall only be granted in conjunction with the installation of an ignition interlock device and/or blood and urine testing."
  },
  "courtIssuesRestriction": {
   "url": "https://dmv.ri.gov/adjudications-suspensions/alcohol-related-license-suspensions/hardship-licenseignition-interlock",
   "quote": "Only a Rhode Island court can issue a hardship license or ignition interlock restriction upon conviction of an alcohol related offense in accordance with RIGL 31-27-2.8."
  },
  "uRestriction": {
   "url": "https://rules.sos.ri.gov/Regulations/part/280-30-15-9?reg_id=10604",
   "quote": "When the court orders the use of an ignition interlock system, the DMV shall place an appropriate notation, a “U” restriction, upon the operator’s record and license that clearly sets forth the requirement for an IID."
  },
  "noPaymentPlans": {
   "url": "https://dmv.ri.gov/adjudications-suspensions/alcohol-related-license-suspensions/hardship-licenseignition-interlock",
   "quote": "Does the DMV have payment plans available for suspension reinstatement fees, interlock device or hardship license fees, or education requirement fees? No. The DMV does not have payment plans."
  },
  "firstOffenseIid_threshold": {
   "url": "https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-27/31-27-2.htm",
   "quote": "Every person convicted of a first offense whose blood alcohol concentration is fifteen hundredths of one percent (.15%) or above, or who is under the influence of a drug, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in subsection (b)(1), shall be subject to a fine of five hundred dollars ($500)"
  }
 },
 "approvedVendorNamesAsListed": [
  "#1 A LifeSafer of Rhode Island",
  "1A Smart Start, LLC",
  "Alcohol Detection Systems",
  "Guardian Interlock",
  "Intoxalock",
  "Low Cost Interlock",
  "Sens-O-Lock of America"
 ],
 "license": "CC BY 4.0",
 "methodology": "https://wheelsback.com/methodology/",
 "page": "https://wheelsback.com/rhode-island/"
}