RI District Court and Traffic Tribunal Case Law

This website is in no way affiliated with, sponsored by, or supported by the Rhode Island Judiciary, the Rhode Island District Court, or Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal.

City of Providence v. Dennis P. Lonardo, C.A. No. T11-0063 Reasonable Suspicion

Defendant appealed the decision of the trial judge sustaining the violation of R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-27-2.3 (revocation of license upon refusal to submit to a preliminary breath test). Defendant argued that the officer lacked reasonable suspicion to stop him because the officer did not observe the defendant commit a traffic violation. The Court held that the officer had reasonable suspicion to stop the defendant because the officer observed the defendant stumble and sway from side to side while walking down a side walk, enter and exit a liquor store, then get into a vehicle and drive away. Accordingly, the Court sustained the violation against the defendant.

Case Index