Authorizes judges to issue electronic warrants for DUI offenses under certain conditions.

Electronic Warrants for DUI Cases

This bill would allow Rhode Island judges to issue search warrants electronically for suspected drunk or impaired driving (DUI) cases. Currently, obtaining a warrant often requires an in-person process. Under this proposal, law enforcement officers could request a warrant digitally — for example, through email or an online system — and a judge could approve it remotely, without everyone needing to be in the same location.

The main practical effect involves blood draws. When police suspect a driver is impaired, they sometimes need a warrant to legally require that driver to submit to a blood test, especially if the driver refuses. Being able to get that warrant electronically could speed up the process, which matters because alcohol levels in the blood decrease over time. Faster warrants could mean more accurate test results that better reflect a driver's condition at the time they were pulled over.

This bill would primarily affect law enforcement officers, judges, and people who are stopped on suspicion of drunk or impaired driving in Rhode Island. Officers would have a quicker path to obtaining legally required authorization, while the warrant requirement itself — which is a constitutional protection for individuals — would still remain in place. Judges would still need to review and approve each request before a warrant is issued.

The bill was introduced in the Rhode Island Senate and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has recommended holding it for further study. A hearing is currently scheduled for April 2026, meaning lawmakers are still reviewing the proposal before deciding whether to move it forward.