Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that Louis Caruolo (age 41), with a last known address of 805 Providence Street, West Warwick, was sentenced on Monday to three years, with 18 months to serve and the remainder suspended with probation, for his third DUI within five years. In addition, Superior Court Justice William E. Carnes, Jr., imposed a two year loss of license upon his release from the ACI and mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device for one year when his license is reinstated. Caruolo was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and undergo substance abuse counseling. Caruolo pled nolo contendere in November to the charge.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that during the evening of March 16, 2014, members of the Woonsocket Police, who were returning from the ACI, observed the defendant driving erratically on Route 146 in Lincoln. Out of imminent concern for public safety, the Woonsocket Police officers pulled over the vehicle and contacted the Lincoln Police Department. Arriving on the scene, Lincoln Police officers conducted field sobriety tests. The defendant failed the tests and was taken into custody.
"This defendant has continually failed to abide by the law and his previous sentences, getting behind the wheel drunk time and time again, endangering the lives of innocent people. He has been a menace on our roads and deserves to go to jail. Drunk driving cannot and will not be tolerated," said Attorney General Peter Kilmartin. "This case was an excellent example of law enforcement working together to keep the roadways safe from drunk drivers. By working together, the Woonsocket and Lincoln Police departments took a dangerous driver off the road before a tragedy happened."
Caruolo was charged with his first DUI offense in November 2010 and was sentenced to one year suspended with probation, a four month loss of license, fines and community service. He was sentenced with his second DUI offense, along with possession of a controlled substance, in October 2011. He was sentenced to 18 months with 20 days to serve, 18 month loss of license, and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, undergo substance abuse counseling and pay fines.