Dem plays race card during DUI and hints she's too important to arrest
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In a controversial incident, a Democratic figure from Rhode Island has been recorded making a peculiar attempt to invoke racial dynamics while implying she was too significant to face arrest on allegations of driving under the influence.

Maria A. Bucci, aged 51, who previously ran for mayor in Cranston and currently leads the city’s Democratic Committee, faces charges of driving under the influence. This follows a traffic stop that occurred on December 18.

Footage from the East Greenwich Police, procured by the Daily Mail, captures Bucci protesting on Division Street as officers attempted to administer a sobriety test. During the encounter, she controversially remarked, “if I was a black person I’d be arrested.”

In the 12-minute video recorded shortly after midnight, Bucci also questioned one officer, asking, “You know who I am, right?” The officer responded by stating he was unaware and indifferent to her identity.

Bucci was charged with a misdemeanor DUI and subsequently released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond. However, the incident has already taken a toll on her public image as the embarrassing footage rapidly spread across social media platforms.

‘I honestly feel bad,’ she yells at one point during the ordeal. ‘If I was a black human, I think you guys, I feel bad for the people that are not in my position in life.’ 

In a slurred voice, she added: ‘Call my husband right now, and call the attorney general and everybody else in town. This is disgusting! 

‘God forbid if I was a black person I’d be arrested. Make sure my husband is on his way!’ 

White Rhode Island Democrat Maria Bucci has been caught on camera bizarrely trying to play the race card while cops are arresting her for an alleged DUI offense

White Rhode Island Democrat Maria Bucci has been caught on camera bizarrely trying to play the race card while cops are arresting her for an alleged DUI offense

The former Democratic mayoral candidate repeatedly asked an officer, 'You know who I am, right?' as she was being arrested just after midnight on December 18

The former Democratic mayoral candidate repeatedly asked an officer, ‘You know who I am, right?’ as she was being arrested just after midnight on December 18 

The footage starts with the officer explaining that he pulled Bucci over because he noticed her ‘driving was pretty erratic’. 

When asked whether she had drunk anything that night, Bucci replied that she’d had ‘just a glass of wine’.  

The officer asked if she was sure about this, to which she replied: ‘This (a woman out of shot) is my cousin, I’m taking her home, we went to a Christmas party. 

‘I don’t drink, very random. Nor would I drive if I drink, my cousin would drive if I was drinking. I think I’m pretty cool, so what’s the problem?’ 

‘I can smell alcohol coming off your breath right now,’ the officer hit back, leading Bucci to accuse him of trying to ’embarrass’ her. 

‘You know who I am, right?’ she added during the entitled rant. 

‘I don’t know who you are, miss, and frankly I don’t care,’ the officer said. 

During the next several minutes, the officer repeatedly asked Bucci to take sobriety tests, including following a pen with her eyes, and walking in a straight line. 

However, the Democrat wannabe politician grew increasingly irate, and exploded at him again. 

‘I gotta tell you, my nephew’s law enforcement, my uncle’s law enforcement. Do you want to embarrass me? I’m an old lady,’ she ranted, before playing the race card. 

Join the debate

How should public figures be held accountable when they abuse their status during run-ins with the law?

Bucci berated officers, telling them they were embarrassing her and even challenging them with, 'What are you going to do, shoot me?'

Bucci berated officers, telling them they were embarrassing her and even challenging them with, ‘What are you going to do, shoot me?’

Bucci was charged with a misdemeanor DUI and released shortly afterward on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond

Bucci was charged with a misdemeanor DUI and released shortly afterward on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond

In his report, East Greenwich police officer St. Laurent wrote that Bucci only 'continued to scream, bark orders and act completely belligerent towards everyone on the scene'

In his report, East Greenwich police officer St. Laurent wrote that Bucci only ‘continued to scream, bark orders and act completely belligerent towards everyone on the scene’

At another point, she turned her attention back to the officer and asked, ‘What are you going to do, shoot me?’ despite him simply trying to demonstrate one of the tests. 

In his report, Officer St. Laurent wrote that Bucci only ‘continued to scream, bark orders and act completely belligerent towards everyone on the scene’.

‘She was slurring and spitting when she was yelling and was extremely confrontational,’ he added.

Bucci’s blast escalated as she once more invoked her family connections in law enforcement and shouted, ‘You guys are gross,’ and ‘I f***ing can’t stand you’.

After continuing to question the sobriety test for several minutes, Bucci was handcuffed, which only seemed to fuel her fury.

‘Give me the camera, you’re a d***. Like I am not drinking. You’re a loser,’ Bucci said in reference to the officer’s body-worn camera. 

Authorities wrote in the arrest report that Bucci’s verbal abuse persisted even after she was transferred to police headquarters.

Bucci¿s blast escalated as she invoked her family connections in law enforcement and shouted, 'You guys are gross,' and 'I f***ing can't stand you'

Bucci’s blast escalated as she invoked her family connections in law enforcement and shouted, ‘You guys are gross,’ and ‘I f***ing can’t stand you’

After continuing to question the sobriety test for several minutes, Bucci was handcuffed, which only seemed to fuel her fury as she called the officer a 'loser'

After continuing to question the sobriety test for several minutes, Bucci was handcuffed, which only seemed to fuel her fury as she called the officer a ‘loser’

They claimed that she continued to call St. Laurent an ‘evil f***ing piece of s***.’

The report stated that Bucci cried out that she had ‘told her kids if they ever became a cop I’d kill them,’ before adding, ‘only clowns become cops.’ 

‘During booking, Ms. Bucci continued her ferocious attack of abusive comments by stating, “I’m going to get you mother******”,’ St. Laurent wrote in the documents.

After refusing a breathalyzer test, Bucci was arraigned by a justice of the peace for her first DUI, with her BAC remaining unknown, according to the police report obtained by ABC 6 News

Bucci also received multiple citations, including for laned roadway violations, refusal to submit to a chemical test and other offenses, as reported by the outlet.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Bucci for comment.  

She is now scheduled to be arraigned on January 5 in Kent County District Court.

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