RI Police Chiefs Assoc Launches #HolidayHeroes Social Media Campaign, Notes 54 DUIs Over Thanksgiving

The RI Police Chiefs Association is launching a campaign to recognize “Holiday Heroes” – while announcing its DUI arrests for the Thanksgiving holiday.

During the Thanksgiving holiday (from 12 p.m. on November 26, 2025, to 6 a.m. on December 1, 2025), law enforcement across Rhode Island arrested 54 individuals for Driving Under the Influence. This figure represents the combined efforts of all 38 municipal police departments and the Rhode Island State Police.

“Every impaired driver we removed from the roadway this Thanksgiving holiday period represents a potential tragedy that was prevented,” said Chief Thomas Oates, President of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association and Woonsocket Chief of Police. “Driving under the influence is not a mistake. It is a dangerous, illegal choice that puts everyone on the road at risk. Law enforcement across the state remains united in our commitment to hold impaired drivers accountable, and I am proud of the dedicated efforts of our officers throughout this holiday period.”

Background on impaired driving

The first offense for driving under the influence of liquor or drugs carries several penalties:

• Possible jail sentence of up to one year at the ACI.
• Mandatory license suspension from three to eighteen months.
• Mandatory community service from 10 to 60 hours.
• Fines of not less than $100, nor more than $500.
• Fees can easily reach a few thousand dollars.

Rhode Island law requires you to submit to a chemical test of your blood, breath, or urine to determine the chemical content of your body fluids or breath.

If you refuse this testing, certain penalties can be imposed, including the following:

• For a first offense, your Rhode Island driver’s license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle in this state can be suspended for six months to one year or modified to permit operation in connection with an ignition interlock device for a period specified by law; a fine from $200 to $500 can be imposed; and you can be ordered to perform 10 to 60 hours of community service and attend a special course on driving while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance and/or alcohol or drug treatment.

• If you have had one or more previous offenses within the past five years, your refusal to submit to a chemical test of breath or urine at this time can have criminal penalties, including incarceration of up to six months for a second offense and up to one year for a third or subsequent offense, and can carry increased license suspension or ignition interlock period, fines, and community service.

The #HolidayHeroes campaign for 2025 is a social media campaign to recognize police officers from across the state who are nominated for their exceptional work in traffic safety, especially in DUI Enforcement.

“Across the state, our police officers are committed to keeping our roads safe throughout the year and this is one way we say thank you for exceptional work,” said Chief Thomas F. Oates, III, President of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association and Chief of Police for the City of Woonsocket. “The officers featured in our Holiday Heroes campaign are dedicated to DUI enforcement and many of them take extra shifts that focus on identifying and arresting impaired drivers. These are difficult and unpleasant details and so their commitment to keeping our roads safe deserves recognition.”

This campaign is timely, as impaired driving and other traffic risks historically rise during the holiday season. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4,931 people lost their lives in alcohol-impaired driving crashes during the December months from 2019 to 2023. In December 2023 alone, 1,038 lives were tragically lost to alcohol-impaired driving.

#HolidayHeroes will be featured on the Association’s social media accounts. All are encouraged to follow along and support the spotlighted officers. Follow the RI Police Chiefs Association at these social media accounts:

Facebook: @RICHIEFSOFPOLICE 

Instagram: @ripolicechiefs 

X: @ripolicechiefs