State troopers recently arrested a New York woman for drunken driving after they received a call from her daughter who was in the car with her.
CNN reports that Jamie S. Hicks of Islip, New York was released on bail after being charged with felony driving under the influence. She was driving with her two children, ages 10 and 12, in the car on Interstate 84.
Hicks' 12-year-old daughter called 911 and told the dispatcher that her mother was "weaving in and out of traffic" and speaking incoherently.
When police arrived, Hicks' green Buick was pulled over to the side of the highway. The girl told officers that her mother was drunk; Hicks subsequently failed both a field sobriety and a blood alcohol test.
Averting a Tragedy
Adam Stiebeling, deputy commissioner of the Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services, applauded the girl's actions, telling CNN, "She was a terrified young girl who made a conscientious decision to get her mother arrested...it averted a tragedy."
While the girl's quick thinking might well have averted a tragedy, the widespread publicity the case received on national TV and other media might encourage other teens and children to call police in circumstances far less dire.
Expressing Concern
With children now routinely in possession of cell phones, it seems likely that law enforcement personnel might more regularly field similar calls. Some observers express concern that children will not always be the most reliable judges of who is and is not intoxicated.
Some children might also be prone to copying behavior they've seen in the media, whether or not circumstances justify it. In some cases, kids might even go as far as dialing 911 in retaliation for parental discipline or in the course of a dispute with their father or mother.
We urge cool heads to prevail and for trained police officers to make DWI arrests only when there is clear evidence indicating drunken driving.
New York residents who face disputed DWI charges should contact a New York criminal defense attorney for an evaluation of their case and a detailed description of their legal options.
