Recently we highlighted the case of an Oregon man who was arrested after police allegedly found his 10-year-old son driving while the father sat in the passenger seat. A development in the case points out the risks of being charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants.
According to police, the man's SUV was pulled over after officers driving behind him in The Dalles noticed that the vehicle was drifting back and forth, starting and stopping frequently and sometimes pulling over to the side of the road. When they stopped the SUV, officers found a 10-year-old boy in the driver's seat. The man was sitting next to him, apparently too drunk to drive, according to the police report. Police also said they found an open container of alcohol and several empty beer cans in the vehicle.
Officers said the man's blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit and that he had numerous previous arrests on his record. After he was charged with drunk driving, criminal mistreatment and other counts, a Wasco County judge set his bail at $6,000. The judge also said that if the defendant makes that bail, he's not allowed to have any contact with his young son.
Considering the danger the car ride posed to both father and son, it isn't surprising. Some readers have speculated that if the father wasn't worried about putting his son in the driver's seat, he may have endangered him in other ways, too. Whether that's true isn't for us to determine, but the case reminds us that arrests for DUII or other serious traffic violations carry penalties that drivers might not have considered beforehand. Depending on the seriousness and number of offenses you're accused of, you could spend time in jail or lose your license for the long term, just a couple of the consequences that could have a negative ripple effect throughout other areas of your life.
Hindsight is usually 20/20 when it comes to drunk driving. It's easy to realize we shouldn't have done it after it's too late. If you do find yourself facing charges after an arrest, the next step is to contact a DUII attorney who can carefully explain what your legal options are and the best course of action to take to ensure you aren't penalized any more harshly than necessary.
Source: KOIN Local 6, "Ore. Man barred from contact with son," Amy Frazier," May 7, 2012
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