A Minnesota woman was taken into custody by police after they made contact with her on Highway 52 near Oronoco . Police initiated a traffic stop at about 3:45 p.m. on Sept. 23 after an officer noticed that her vehicle has struck a guard rail. When an officer approached the driver, it was discovered that she was breastfeeding a baby. The woman also had four other children in the vehicle under the age of 10.
The woman was taken to Olmsted County Law Enforcement Center and given a Breathalyzer test. She reportedly blew a .17 and was charged with DWI. Her children were taken to the St. Mary’s campus of the Mayo Clinic Hospital and subsequently placed by child protective services. Authorities say that the woman had another five children at home in addition to those in the car at the time of the crash.
Drivers who are charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence may face significant penalties. Penalties may be increased if they are doing so with children in the car. It may be possible to spend time in jail or prison. It may also be possible to lose custody of any children who are in the car when a person is driving while intoxicated.
An attorney may be able to help someone who is facing a drunk driving charge. For instance, legal counsel may be able to argue that the vehicle had a mechanical problem that resulted in an accident. It may also be possible to contend that the driver was not legally drunk or impaired at a time when children were in the vehicle. This may make it easier to negotiate a plea or obtain an acquittal if the case goes to trial.
