RI District Court and Traffic Tribunal Case Law

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State of Rhode Island v. John Davis, A.A. No. 06-48-Reasonable Grounds/Probabale 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), R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-20-9 (obedience to stop signs), R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-16-2 (manner of turning at intersection) and R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-15-11 (laned roadway). The District Court held that where the defendant had slurred speech, bloodshot, watery, and glassy eyes, emitted an odor of alcohol on his breath, admitted that he had consumed six beers, stumbled when exiting the car, failed one field sobriety test and said he could not perform two other field sobriety tests because of his bum knee, the officer had probable cause to arrest. Accordingly, the Court affirmed the decision of the Appeals Panel sustaining the violation against the defendant.

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