Teen Faces DUI After Car Seen Swerving All Over Road

A 17-year-old Bristol teen was charged with drunk driving near the Mt. Hope Bridge and Roger Williams University early Saturday morning, Nov. 30.

The Hamlet Drive teen was spotted driving north at 52 mph in a 30 mph zone at about 12:40 am, according to the arrest report. He was pulled over by a Bristol patrol officer after the vehicle was observed driving from side to side across two lanes of traffic. 

The teen’s car also left the road where it narrows to one lane and drove on the dirt and grass before almost hitting a street sign, according to the arrest report. It swerved back onto the road and almost left the road on the other side, according to the police report. The car was stopped at the north entrance to Roger Williams University.

The driver admitted to smoking marijuana and drinking Southern Comfort earlier in the evening. He submitted to and failed a field sobriety test. A preliminary breath test determined that his blood had an alcohol level of .137, much higher than the state’s .08 standard for being drunk.

Two additional breath tests showed blood alcohol levels of .135 and .131, according to the arrest report.

The teen was arraigned on a DUI in the police station before being turned over to his father at 3 am. He will be issued a date by Bristol police juvenile officer to appear in Family Court to face the charge.