Two mothers, both friends, were each charged with Massachusetts Drunk Driving Crimes last week after they allegedly drove impaired by alcohol with their children in the car. Both mothers were charged with Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol and Child Endangerment While Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol.
According to the Harwich Police Department, officers first attempted to pull over a vehicle, but the car sped away at over 70 miles an hour last Thursday morning. When the car was eventually pulled over, it was discovered that she also had in the car her 1 year old infant. She was arrested after she submitted to Field Sobriety Tests.
Some time later, a friend went to the Harwich police station to pick up the woman’s infant. When she got there, police also suspected her of having driven drunk and she was also arrested for OUI / DUI. When police discovered that she had also gone to the police station with her daughter, she was also charged with Child Endangerment While Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol.
The Massachusetts DUI / OUI Crime of Child Endangerment While Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol was passed in 2005 and makes it a crime to drive under the influence of alcohol while also having a minor child in the vehicle. A conviction for this crime would result in a minimum-mandatory sentence to the House of Correction for not less than 90 days and up to 2.5 years; as well as a suspension of the person’s driver’s license for 1 year.
Because the elements (what the government would have to prove in court) are differed for each crime, a person may be prosecuted for both OUI / DUI and Child Endangerment While OUI / DUI.
Boston Criminal Lawyer Lefteris K. Travayiakis is available 24/7 for consultation on all Massachusetts Drunk Driving Crimes, including OUI / DUI and Child Endangerment While OUI / DUI.
To schedule a Free Consultation, Click Here to Contact a Massachusetts DUI / OUI Lawyer or call 617-325-9500.