Narragansett Police Department Introduces Blue Envelope Program for Drivers on Autism Spectrum

NARRAGANSETT — Chief Kyle Rekas of the Narragansett Police Department would like to announce that it is implementing the Blue Envelope Program for drivers on the autism spectrum in the community and is distributing envelopes for drivers who wish to opt into the initiative.

The program, which was initially adopted in Connecticut but has now spread throughout the Northeast, aims to ease communication between individuals on the autism spectrum and law enforcement during motor vehicle stops.

The State of Rhode Island passed Bill S2481 to adopt the Blue Envelope Program in June, and guidelines were established in conjunction with the Division of Motor Vehicles, the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association, and the Rhode Island Governor’s Commission on Disabilities.

The specially designed envelope holds a driver’s essential documents — license, registration, and a contact card — and is recognizable by trained law enforcement. Instructions for both the driver and the officer conducting the motor vehicle stop are printed on the envelope to reinforce calm, positive interactions between drivers with autism and police officers.

Participation in this program is strictly voluntary for drivers with autism spectrum disorder. No state registry exists for individuals who wish to opt into the voluntary initiative, and information will not be shared with any other department.

Envelopes can be found at the Narragansett Police Department at 40 Caswell St. Families may also fill out forms available at the police station to alert the department that family members may have special needs or disabilities to ensure that officers respond to emergency situations effectively.

“While this bill will be formally adopted into Rhode Island legislature next year, the Narragansett Police Department identified this need for proactive communication and wanted to implement this initiative early to ensure that our community members can feel as safe and comfortable as they can, as soon as they can, while participating in a traffic stop,” said Lt. Kevin Bousquet, who is organizing the initiative. “Exchanges with law enforcement don’t always have to be stressful, and we want to reinforce positive relationships with those who may respond differently when interacting with officers.”

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