RI District Court and Traffic Tribunal Case Law

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John Duffy v. State of Rhode Island, A.A. No. 03-34 Probable Cause

Defendant appealed the decision of the Appeals Panel sustaining the violations of R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-27-2.1 (refusal to submit to a chemical test) and R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-14-2 (prima facie limits). The Court held that where the defendant had slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, emitted a strong odor of alcohol, and failed the two field sobriety test that were administered, reasonable grounds to believe that the defendant was operating his vehicle under the influence of alcohol existed. Accordingly, the Court affirmed the decision of the trial court sustaining the charge against the defendant.

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