Rhode Island Democrat lawmaker arrested for DUI ordered to install car breathalyzer

After being arrested for driving portion intoxicated successful February, a justice successful Cranston, Rhode Island, ordered a Democratic authorities lawmaker to instal a breathalyzer successful his conveyance successful bid to proceed driving. 

Rep. Enrique Sanchez, a progressive Democrat who serves successful the Rhode Island House of Representatives, was pulled implicit successful the aboriginal greeting hours of Feb. 3 aft allegedly parking successful an intersection. 

Bodycam footage of the postulation halt that led to his apprehension shows Sanchez offering the constabulary serviceman a reddish debit paper successful lieu of his driver's licence earlier telling her that helium had not had thing to drink.  

RHODE ISLAND JUDGE SPECIALIZING IN IMMIGRATION LAW RESIGNS AFTER FBI RAIDS OFFICE

Rhode Island Rep. Enrique Sanchez was arrested for DUI successful Cranston, Rhode Island, connected Feb. 3, 2025. (Cranston, Rhode Island Police Department)

The footage shows Sanchez stuffing his hands successful his pockets repeatedly, contempt repeated orders from 1 constabulary serviceman to region his hands from his pockets.

"How overmuch you drink?" 1 of the different officers astatine the country asked Sanchez. "You reak of booze, conscionable beryllium honest. You odor similar alcohol."

When an serviceman asked Sanchez if helium would instrumentality a tract sobriety test, helium asked if helium could bid an Uber if helium refused. An serviceman told him helium would not beryllium capable to bid an Uber, and helium refused to instrumentality a tract sobriety trial astatine the scene. 

In an archetypal tribunal quality connected the time of his arrest, Sanchez pleaded not blameworthy to driving portion intoxicated, and has since pleaded not blameworthy to lesser civilian charges of refusing a chemic trial and nonaccomplishment to obey postulation power devices. 

WATCH: DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER ARRESTED FOR DUI AFTER FAILING ROADSIDE SOBRIETY TEST AS WIFE SLEPT IN BACKSEAT

Rep. Enrique Sanchez astatine his table successful the Rhode Island House chamber. (Kris Craig/The Providence Journal/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

Court records amusement that connected Feb. 19, Sanchez's licence was suspended by Cranston Magistrate William Noonan. However, helium was granted a hardship licence that allows him to thrust to and from his time occupation and the State House to execute his legislative duties betwixt the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. connected the information that helium instal an ignition interlock breathalyzer successful his vehicle. 

In a little pre-trial league connected Feb. 24, the lawsuit was moved from territory tribunal to the state's Superior Court. 

Sanchez's apprehension has drawn calls for his resignation. On Feb. 10, helium addressed the apprehension successful an X thread aft a week of silence. 

In the thread, helium noted that helium was thankful to his constituents for their patience, and explained his passionateness for his enactment and the radical of the authorities of Rhode Island. 

DEMOCRAT POLITICIAN BERATES POLICE OFFICER DURING TRAFFIC STOP: 'PULLING OVER YOUR BOSS'

Rep. Enrique Sanchez talks to reporters astir his DUI apprehension earlier the commencement of the Rhode Island House league connected Feb. 11, 2025. (Kris Craig/The Providence Journal/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

He did not apologize and alternatively said, "I volition not fto my idiosyncratic actions go a distraction from the issues that genuinely substance – the families, businesses, and concerns of my community."

"Sometimes, we are excessively adjacent to thing to afloat spot our spot successful it," helium said. "This acquisition has fixed maine a renewed clarity astir my responsibilities – not conscionable successful this chamber, but successful the spot my assemblage has placed successful me. I instrumentality that spot earnestly and volition proceed to enactment hard each time of my life." 

Sanchez's lawyer is erstwhile Rhode Island House Speaker John Harwood.

In 2023, Sanchez filed RI H5461, a measure to springiness amerciable immigrants the close to ballot successful the state. 

READ THE BILL: MOBILE USERS CLICK HERE

The measure was tabled for further survey a period aft it was introduced.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Fox News Digital reached retired to Sanchez and Harwood for comment.