Ticket Fines and Penalties in Rhode Island

Rhode Island Traffic Ticket Fines and Costs

Rhode Island traffic ticket fines vary by violation, but each violation’s fine costs the same throughout the state.

Currently, most traffic tickets are $75. This includes moving violations such as following too closely, not using a turn signal, and eluding a traffic light.

However, speeding tickets are higher. Speeding up to 10 miles over the posted limited costs $85, and 11 miles or more over costs a minimum of $195 with a $10 fine for each mile over.

Your ticket should include the exact fine; if it doesn’t, contact your Ticket Tribunal or Municipal Court.

NOTE: Our Lost WY Traffic Tickets section can help you retrieve lost citation information.

Court Costs and Other Surcharges

Typically, court costs are the same throughout the state, too. Right now, expect to pay around $35.

DUI Surcharges

First Violation:

• BAC 0.08%-0.10%: $100-$300 fine; $500 highway safety assessment fee; $86 fee.
• BAC 0.10%-0.15%: $100-$400 fine; $500 highway safety assessment fee; $86 fee.
• BAC 0.15% or Higher: $500 fine; $500 highway safety assessment fee; $86 fee.

Second Violation:

NOTE: These fines pertain to second violations within a five-year period.

• BAC 0.08%-0.15%: $400 fine; $500 highway safety assessment fee; $86 fee.
• BAC 0.15% or Higher: $1,000 fine; $500 highway safety assessment fee; $86 fee.

Third and Subsequent Violations:

NOTE: These fines pertain to third and subsequent violations within a five-year period.

• BAC 0.08%-0.15%: $400 fine; $500 highway safety assessment fee; $86 fee.
• BAC 0.15% or Higher: $1,000-$5,000; $500 highway safety assessment fee; $86 fee.

Involving Serious Bodily Injury:

• First Violation: $1,000-$5,000.
• Second Violation (within five-year period): $3,000-$10,000.

Involving Death:

• First Violation: $5,000-$10,000.
• Second Violation (within five-year period): $10,000-$20,000.

These fines and fees are just the beginning. Depending on your BAC, the offense number, and whether it’s a misdemeanor or felony, you face community service, incarceration, license suspension or revocation, a course on driving impaired, and substance abuse assessment or treatment.

Learn more at RI DUI.

Chemical Test Refusal

• First Violation: $200-$500 fine; $500 highway safety assessment fee; $200 Department of Health chemical testing program assessment.
• Second Violation (within five-year period): $600-$1,000 fine; $500 highway safety assessment fee; $200 Department of Health chemical testing program assessment.
• Third and Subsequent Violations (within five-year period): $800-$1,000 fine; $500 highway safety assessment fee; $200 Department of Health chemical testing program assessment

Suspension Reinstatement Fee

Suspension reinstatement costs $151.50.

If the suspension was DUI- and refusal-related, you’ll pay $351.50.

Auto Insurance Rate Increase

Expect an increase in your auto insurance rates; it kind of comes with the territory when you plead guilty to or are found guilty of a traffic violation.

Your provider might offer discounts for completing certain defensive driving courses (generally, your provider must choose eligible courses), but most Rhode Island drivers have better luck obtaining lower rates by comparing car insurance rates online and purchasing more affordable coverage.

Rhode Island Traffic Ticket Penalties

Some moving and traffic-related violations bring license suspensions and revocations, too.

RI Driver’s License Suspension, Revocation, Withdrawal, and Cancellation

License Suspension: Suspension means a temporary loss of your driving privileges. Sometimes, you only have to wait until that period is over before you can apply to have them reinstated; other times, you must meet certain reinstatement requirements.

License Revocation: Revocation means a more long-term loss of your driving privileges. Revocations can last as long as 10 years or longer, and generally are reserved for the most serious offenses.

License Cancellation: Although license cancellation isn’t something Rhode Island drivers hear a lot about, the DMV can cancel a driver’s license for certain reasons, such as obtaining the license using false information or being unfit to safely operate a motor vehicle.

The Rhode Island Driver’s Manual outlines traffic laws you must obey and the penalties for breaking them.

For now, examples of violations that can result in a loss of driving privileges include:

• Attempting to evade an officer.
• Operating a motor vehicle on a designated bike path.
• DWI- and DUI-related offenses.
• Not stopping and rendering aid during an accident in which injury or death is involved.
• Vehicular manslaughter.

Habitual Offender Suspensions

Rhode Island doesn’t use a point system, so you don’t have to worry about having your license suspended if you accumulate too many points.

However, in addition to the above violations, the state will suspend your license if you obtain a habitual offender label.

Drivers who receive three or more major violations within a three-year period qualify as habitual offenders.

Penalties for Drivers Younger than 21

Penalties specific to drivers younger than 21 relate to DWI and DUI offenses and other traffic violations.

DWI and DUI

For quick reference, understand that DWI means “driving while impaired” and pertains to a driver younger than 21 with a BAC of 0.02%-0.10% and drivers. DUI means “driving under the influence” and when used for a driver younger than 21, the BAC is 0.08% or higher.

Younger Than 18

All DWI violations (first, second, third, and subsequent) for drivers younger than 18 cost $150. This covers the highway safety assessment fee.

DUI costs:

• First Violation: $500 highway safety assessment fee.
• Second and Subsequent Violations: $500 highway safety assessment fee or incarceration.

Chemical refusal costs:

• First Violation: $200-$500 fine; $500 highway safety assessment fee; $200 Department of Health chemical testing program assessment fee.
• Second Violation (within five-year period): $600-$1,000 fine; $500 highway safety assessment fee; $200 Department of Health chemical testing program assessment fee.
• Third and Subsequent Violations (within five-year period): $800-$1,000 fine; $500 highway safety assessment fee; $200 Department of Health chemical testing program assessment fee


18-21 Years Old

DWI costs:

• First Violation: $250 fine.
• Second and Subsequent Violations: $250 fine; $300 highway safety assessment fee.

Chemical refusal costs:

• First Violation: $200-$500 fine; $500 highway safety assessment fee; $200 Department of Health chemical testing program assessment fee.
• Second Violation (within five-year period): $600-$1,000 fine; $500 highway safety assessment fee; $200 Department of Health chemical testing program assessment fee.
• Third and Subsequent Violations (within five-year period): $800-$1,000 fine; $500 highway safety assessment fee; $200 Department of Health chemical testing program assessment fee

Other Violations

Drivers between the ages of 16 and 18 face penalties unrelated to DWI or DUI, too.

For example, a driver with a limited instruction permit can’t move on to the limited provisional license without completing six-month, violation-free waiting period.

Likewise, a driver with a provisional license can’t move on to the full driver’s license without completing a 12-month, violation-free waiting period.

Penalties for Rhode Island Commercial Drivers

All CDL drivers must notify their employers within 30 days of receiving violations.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets for the following nationwide penalties for CDL holders:

Major Offenses

The following are considered major offenses. If you commit any, you face a one-year license suspension or disqualification:

• Operating any vehicle with a BAC of 0.08% or higher.
• Operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) with a BAC of 0.04%.
• Refusing to submit to a sobriety test.
• Leaving the scene of an accident.
• Commission of a felony with the vehicle.
• Operating a CMV with a suspended, revoked, or canceled CDL.
• Negligent driving resulting in fatality.

Serious Offenses

The following are considered serious offenses:

• Speeding 15 miles or more over the limit.
• Driving recklessly.
• Improperly changing lanes.
• Following too closely behind another vehicle.
• Operating a CMV without having a CDL.
• Operating a CMV without having your CDL in your possession.
• Operating a CMV without the proper CDL endorsement.
• Violating a state law of texting while driving.

Multiple offenses bring serious penalties. For example:

• Second Offense: You’ll lose your license for 60 days.
• Third Offense: You’ll lose your license for 120 days.

CDL Disqualifications

If you violate a driver or vehicle out-of-service order while transporting―

• Nonhazardous materials.
• Hazardous materials required to be placarded, or while driving a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers.
―you can lose your license for 180 days.

Check the FMCSA’s Rules and Regulations and the RI Commercial Driver License Manual for more information.