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Woman Faces DUI Charges After Crash Teaching Grandson to Drive

On Behalf of Law Offices of Thomas Maynard Dec. 2, 2020

Tennessee cases in which a person is arrested and charged with driving under the influence can happen in many different circumstances. The general perception is that a driver will be stopped by law enforcement for weaving in and out of traffic or committing some other violation and the officers will conduct tests to determine if the driver is committing a DUI. However, there are other ways in which a DUI can occur. It is important to consider how to lodge a defense no matter how the arrest occurred. One recent case involved a woman who was allegedly under the influence when she tried to teach her teen grandson to drive.

Grandmother Accused of Being Drunk when Teen Crashed Into Pedestrians

The woman, 58, is said to have insisted that her 13-year-old grandson take driving lessons with her even though she was said to have been drinking. The incident happened at around 10 p.m. He was sitting in her lap behind the wheel at the time. As they drove, the vehicle went out of control and hit five pedestrians. Some of the injuries might be serious.

According to the child, he did not want to drive the vehicle, but his grandmother was insistent. He said he was trying to apply the brake, but the grandmother hit the gas. The woman was arrested on a slew of charges including driving without a license, child endangerment, DUI and other violations. She has had a suspended driver’s license for five years.

Understand the Potential Penalties and Long-Term Consequences of a DUI

While this might seem to be an unusual case, the penalties for DUI can be harsh regardless of the situation. There can be fines, jail time and a suspended or revoked driver’s license. In addition, the driver’s insurance rates will likely increase and there may be a challenge getting certain jobs. To avoid these consequences, it is wise to think about the avenues of defense. The evidence should be assessed to determine if it was accumulated according to the law and the entire case should be scrutinized.

Legal Assistance Can Be Essential

The woman in this case had already lost her driving privileges before this. There could be extenuating circumstances that led to her making this mistake. It is imperative to consider effective strategies to mitigate the possible penalties, try to negotiate a plea bargain or take the necessary steps to get an acquittal. Having legal advice from a firm experienced in DUI cases may be helpful.