Driving with your kids around is risky. So you might want to be extra careful when you are driving a car along with your kids. Driving your kids after consuming alcohol, however, presents an even bigger risk. You are putting not just your life in danger, but also the lives of your innocent children as well.
To help you understand better the dangers of driving your kids after drinking alcohol and prevent you from doing such inappropriate behavior, take a look at these following reasons.
- Driving under the influence is strictly prohibited by law.
Driving after consuming alcohol is illegal and punishable by law. It is against the law because you are putting not just your life in danger but other people’s lives as well. You can also end up damaging multiple properties if you crash while driving under the influence. If the authorities found that you are responsible for the accident, you’ll be subject to multiple charges and penalties, and could end up getting incarcerated especially if you killed someone in the crash.
Depending on the nature of accident you caused, you could probably end up:
- Paying hefty fines.
- License suspension.
- Do community service.
- Undergo rehab.
- Extend your probation period because of your violation.
- You’ll be charged with aggravated DUI.
If you are caught by authorities driving under the influence with your kids, you’ll instantly be charged with aggravated DUI. Aggravated DUI can enforce stricter punishment on you once proven, and this especially true if you are driving with minors in the car while drunk. Even though drunk driving is just a misdemeanor case, you could be charged with a felony if the authorities found out that you are driving minors while drunk.
Once convicted, you could be facing harsher punishments depending on the degree of aggravated DUI you’ve committed which includes:
- Felony punishments.
- Longer jail sentence.
- Longer probation period that resulted from a previous conviction which could last up to ten years.
- Larger fines.
- Revocation of your driving privileges.
- Confiscation of the vehicle.
- Installation of an ignition interlock device for at least two years.
- Drunk driving with your kids is considered as child neglect or child endangerment.
If the authorities caught you in the act of driving your kids while drunk, they might charge you with Child Neglect or Child Endangerment DUI. Child Neglect or Child Endangerment DUI, as stated by the law, is another type of criminal offense where a parent fails to protect their children from imminent danger or putting their children in imminent danger involuntarily because they are heavily intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol.
Depending on the circumstances, you could face harsher penalties which includes:
- Double amount of fines.
- Cancellation of your driver’s license.
- Installation of an ignition interlock device.
- Receive proper parenting supervision issued by the court.
- Removing the parental custody rights over the children.
- Possible termination of your parental responsibilities and rights.
- You can go to straight to jail.
While drunk driving is just considered a misdemeanor, it could be a lot different if you are driving while under the influence with your kids in the car. Being arrested for drunk driving with minors in the car will subject you to multiple charges and penalties.
Now the legal consequences of the drunk driving with kids in the car may vary from state to state, but in general, the presence of a minor while driving under the influence may result in felony charges.
- If you’re charged with felony DUI, this can leave a serious mark on your criminal record and may tarnish your reputation as well. You may have a hard time getting jobs, getting a new apartment, and securing a loan later on.
- Having minors in the car while drunk also changes the judge’s or jury’s perception of you. They will surely be in favor in prosecuting you, and your efforts of defending your side or in making a bargaining plea will be denied.
- Your children could be potentially taken away from you.
If a driver is driving erratically while on the road with children on board because of alcohol, there’s a possibility that the children will be taken away from the driver.
- Once caught, the authorities will immediately call a family member (your spouse, aunt, etc.) to pick up the children. This is to ensure the safety of their children as you are being investigated further for the offense you’ve committed.
- If no family member comes to pick up the children, Child Protective Services are usually called to take custody of the children temporarily.
So if you don’t want your children to be taken away from you, you must avoid drunk driving, especially with your kids around. If you’re concerned about your kids’ welfare while driving, you may click here to explore on the possible long-term legal consequences of DUI offenses.
Put simply; you must not drive while drunk with or without your kids in the car. Even one little sip of alcohol is already against the law if you are driving with your kids. As a parent or a guardian, it is your responsibility to take care of your children and ensure their safety as much as possible.
Drunk driving with kids is a big no because you are neglecting your parental duties to your children. Just think about the lives of your children; it is not their fault that you are drunk. It is your own choice, and you mustn’t put the lives of your innocent children in danger as well.
Michelle Blakney
Michelle Blakney believes experience is an important part of the learning process. She hopes her articles can enlighten the common reader to important aspects of the law. Michelle enjoys long and fruitful discussions over coffee, and she loves sharing her professional insights with others.
