Rhode Island's 5-year DUI lookback period was lengthened to 10 years on July 1st, 2025 and measures from the date of the prior conviction (not arrest) to the date of the new offense. A DUI committed more than 10 years after the prior conviction is treated as a first offense for sentencing enhancement purposes, even if it is technically your second or third lifetime DUI. This makes the timing of arrest critical. A DUI just inside the 10-year window faces dramatically higher penalties than the same conduct just outside it. Defense work sometimes focuses on contesting the date of the prior conviction or arguing that the timing falls outside the lookback period.
