Rhode Island Democrat lawmaker arrested for DUI ordered to install car breathalyzer

After being arrested for driving while intoxicated in February, a judge in Cranston, Rhode Island, ordered a Democratic state lawmaker to install a breathalyzer in his vehicle in order to continue driving. 

Rep. Enrique Sanchez, a progressive Democrat who serves in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, was pulled over in the early morning hours of Feb. 3 after allegedly parking in an intersection. 

Bodycam footage of the traffic stop that led to his arrest shows Sanchez offering the police officer a red debit card in lieu of his driver’s license before telling her that he had not had anything to drink.  

Rhode Island Rep. Enrique Sanchez

Rep. Enrique Sanchez talks to reporters about his DUI arrest before the start of the Rhode Island House session on Feb. 11, 2025. (Kris Craig/The Providence Journal/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

He did not apologize and instead said, “I will not let my personal actions become a distraction from the issues that truly matter – the families, businesses, and concerns of my community.”

“Sometimes, we are too close to something to fully see our place in it,” he said. “This experience has given me a renewed clarity about my responsibilities – not just in this chamber, but in the trust my community has placed in me. I take that trust seriously and will continue to work hard every day of my life.” 

Sanchez’s attorney is former Rhode Island House Speaker John Harwood.

In 2023, Sanchez filed RI H5461, a bill to give illegal immigrants the right to vote in the state. 

The bill was tabled for further study a month after it was introduced.

Fox News Digital reached out to Sanchez and Harwood for comment. 

You May Also Like
Medical examiner details skull fractures in Karen Read murder trial testimony

Testimony in Karen Read murder trial discusses skull fractures described by medical examiner

A medical examiner testified she could identify John O’Keefe’s cause of death…
Essex Files: Saudi Arabia’s Bold Leap to Modernity

The Essex Files: Saudi Arabia’s Courageous Move into the Modern Era

In the last five years, Saudi Arabia has experienced a significant transformation,…
Lawsuit against city, Chicago Department of Transportation alleges pregnant CDOT worker Danyiell Montgomery harassed by co-worker

Pregnant CDOT Worker Danyiell Montgomery Allegedly Harassed by Co-Worker: Lawsuit Against Chicago Department of Transportation

A pregnant Chicago Department of Transportation worker filed a lawsuit in federal…
Entire family of five killed in horror crash while traveling on Mother's Day

Family of five tragically dies in a car crash on Mother’s Day

A family of five from Texas were tragically killed in a horrific…
New speed cameras Chicago 2025: City's department of transportation adds new street safety; tickets begin issued on June 15

Chicago to introduce new speed cameras in 2025: Department of Transportation improves street safety with the introduction of new cameras; issuance of tickets to commence on June 15th.

CHICAGO (WLS) — Nearly a dozen new speed cameras are set to…
Sextortion meaning: What to do if you receive threatening email, direct message connected to common scam

What to do if you receive a threatening email or direct message as part of a common scam known as sextortion

CHICAGO (WLS) — The ABC7 Chicago I-Team has an alert on sextortion.…
Will There Be A ‘9-1-1’ Season 9 On ABC? Everything We Know

– Get the Latest Updates on the Possibility of Season 9 of ‘9-1-1’ on ABC

It may seem like it was just yesterday when the 118 firefighters…
Hidden communications devices found in Chinese solar power inverters spark security alarm

Discovery of concealed communication tools in Chinese solar energy inverters raises security concerns

Energy authorities in the United States are currently reviewing the potential threat…
‘Doctor Odyssey’ Episode 16 Welcomes Kelli Berglund and the “Trad Wives” For A Cruise With Food Fights and Vibrators

Has ‘Doctor Odyssey’ Been Canceled? Where to Watch the Season 1 Finale Tonight

Don’t say it’s the end! Doctor Odyssey must sail again. After 17…
Chicago Bears legend Stephen 'Mongo' McMichael dies at 67 after ALS battle; inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame: spokesperson

Memorial service honors beloved Chicago Bears icon Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael, Hall of Famer who passed away after ALS fight

CHICAGO (WLS) — Friends and family came together Thursday to remember Bears…
‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Just Killed Off A Longtime Character In An Emotional Twist

A major character on ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ was unexpectedly written out in a heartbreaking plot twist

Death is a common occurrence on the show Criminal Minds: Evolution, but…
Russian-born Harvard researcher charged with smuggling in federal court

Harvard researcher from Russia accused of smuggling in federal court

A Russian woman, 31, faces charges of smuggling biological material as it…