Woman Buckles in the Beer, but Forgets to Strap in Toddler
In more fun with booze, cars and kids, in St. Augustine, Florida, Tina D. Williams, 46, was pulled over for running a red light. She was driving erratically and had twice missed hitting other cars.
When police pulled her over, they found a 24-pack of Busch beer strapped in with a seat belt. In the back seat they found a 16-month-old girl and her panicked mom, Amber Tedrick, 20. There was no car seat in the back. In fact, the child wasn’t even wearing a seat belt.
Seems that Tedrick jumped in the back seat of Williams car to get food for a Super Bowl party. (Williams was an acquaintance.) Tedrick didn’t have a car seat to put her child in. It was in her car, which was gone.
Williams was charged with driving under the influence, child abuse, possession of drug paraphernalia (two drug pipes in her purse), and driving without a license. In Florida, the driver of the vehicle is responsible for making sure that everyone in the care is strapped in, that’s why she and not the mom was charged.
Tedrick said what she did was wrong, but she was stuck without her child seat and didn’t have a choice. Plus, all she thought they were going for food - not a ride on the DUI Express. Luckily for her, no one was hurt.
4 opinions for Woman Buckles in the Beer, but Forgets to Strap in Toddler
Alexandra
Feb 10, 2008 at 7:38 am
A sixteen-month-old could probably have done okay with a lap belt, but not a shoulder harness.
I’m wondering, though, did her mother HAVE to go along with this drunk? If not, I would have stayed at home with my child.
My six-year-old son is still in a booster seat…and I see other kids his age riding in the FRONT seat (where there might be airbags) and no seat belt. What the hey?
April RJ
Feb 10, 2008 at 7:47 am
I read about this. I guess the drunk woman didn’t mind the airbag in the front seat being a hazard to her beer?!?!? What a dumb bitch. Don’t get me started on this childs mother. GRRRRRR!!!
Alexandra
Feb 10, 2008 at 8:00 am
I’d say poor judgment on the mother’s part, really…according to the blog that’s linked, she tried to get the drunk to pull over.
Based on what I’m reading here, I’d cut the mother a little bit of slack. Still, a child that age needs to be in a child restraint.
rockdoll_71
Feb 12, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I saw this on Nancy Grace. The driver even looks like a total loser. According to the news, she had several other infractions in the past involving alcohol, including other DUIs. That beer must have been damn important, huh, to strap it in and not the child! What a dumbass.
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