No. Reckless driving and DUI are separate criminal charges in Rhode Island with different elements and different penalties. DUI requires proof of impairment from alcohol or drugs; reckless driving requires proof of willful or wanton disregard for safety regardless of impairment. The two charges sometimes appear together when a driver is both impaired AND driving dangerously, in which case the prosecution may file both. Reckless driving also appears as a reduced charge in DUI plea negotiations because it carries no automatic license suspension on the DMV side and avoids the DUI-specific collateral consequences like SR-22 high-risk insurance.
