Rhode Island's 5-year DUI lookback period measures from the date of the prior conviction (not arrest) to the date of the new offense. A DUI committed more than 5 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 5-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.
