WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- State troopers arrested a habitual drunken driver on Friday night after he allegedly failed to stop for a red light at the intersection of Cowesett Road and New London Turnpike.
Paul Rocha, 49, of 40 Epworth Ave., was charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicating liquor and/or drugs, refusal to submit to a chemical test and driving after suspension/habitual offender.
The police said that there were two passengers in the car and several open beer cans "strewn within the vehicle."
The state police, citing the state Bureau of Criminal Identification, said that Rocha has been convicted 22 times of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and has served time in jail 14 times for those offenses. He also has been jailed for drunken driving and twice for leaving the scene of an accident.