RI Democratic Chair Maria Bucci's Wild DUI Stop: Bodycam Footage Released

DUI Stop and Initial Interaction

• 🚨 A prominent Democratic Committee chair was pulled over for erratic driving and smelled of alcohol.
• 💬 The individual initially claimed to have only had one glass of wine and was taking her cousin home from a Christmas party.
• 🚗 Police noted the smell of alcohol and erratic driving, leading to the request for a sobriety test.

Resistance to Sobriety Tests

• 🗣️ The individual became confrontational, questioning the officers and stating, "You know who I am, right?"
• 🚫 Initially refused to perform standardized field sobriety tests, asking to call her husband and suggesting the situation was "abuse."
• 🔄 After repeated questioning and clarification of options, she eventually agreed to take the tests.

Field Sobriety Tests and Behavior

• 👁️ During the eye test, she struggled to follow the pen light, citing the light itself as a distraction.
• 🚶‍♀️ The walk-and-turn test also presented challenges, with the individual citing a bad knee and expressing reluctance.
• 🗣️ She made several comments about race and how she would be treated if she were a Black person, implying differential treatment.

Escalation and Arrest

• 🤬 The situation escalated with the individual using expletives towards the officers, calling one a "d--k" and a "loser."
• 🚗 Despite her protests and claims of not drinking, she was ultimately taken into custody and charged with a misdemeanor DUI.
• 🎤 The entire interaction was captured on bodycam footage, which was subsequently released.