We've all been told that if we're too intoxicated to drive, we should leave the driving to a sober friend or family member. But there are some clear exceptions to this piece of advice.
An Oregon man was arrested on drunk-driving charges in The Dalles on Sunday morning not only because he was intoxicated, but also for his choice of a designated driver. According to an Oregon State Police spokesman, a trooper spotted an SUV with its hazard lights on. The vehicle was weaving in and out of its lane and occasionally would stop in the middle of the road.
The trooper pulled over the vehicle to find a 10-year-old boy in the driver's seat and a man sitting next to him. He also reported finding an open container of alcohol and several empty cans of beer in the back seat. The 34-year-old passenger explained that the boy behind the wheel was his son, who was driving while the man steered the car. The man was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving and recklessly endangering another person. The man called his wife to come and take custody of their son, but when she arrived she was cited for not having a valid driver's license. A family friend then came and took the man's wife and child home.
It holds true that no one who's intoxicated should get behind the wheel. But you can get in just as much trouble by forwarding that duty to someone else who can't legally drive. That includes a child or a person without a valid driver's license. The man's wife may not have been prepared to drive when she went to pick up her son with a valid license. But this scenario points out in multiple ways that if you plan to drink, it's important to have a plan for getting home safely and legally.
Source: KOIN Local 6.com, "OSP: Father arrested for DUII, had son driving for him," Brian Pryor, May 6, 2012
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