What Is Child Endangerment?
Child endangerment describes the group of offenses or the added penalty given to an offense when a minor is endangered. Endangerment of a minor is any activity that would put the minor¿s social, moral, physical, or mental well-being in peril. How Does DUI Relate to Child Endangerment?Child endangerment relates to DUI as a parent, care-taker or guardian is making a conscious decision to endanger the moral and/or physical well-being of the minor he/she is transporting by illegally driving under the influence of alcohol. What Are the Penalties for DUI with a Minor?Over half of all states have enacted statutes pertaining to child endangerment while driving impaired due to the influence of alcohol. The penalties imposed by these statutes vary depending on the: - Jurisdiction
- Age of the minor passenger
- Age of the driver
- Severity of the passenger¿s injury
- Number of similar prior offenses the person has committed
Penalties, in addition to or in conjunction with any other DUI penalties, can include one or a combination of the following: - Jail time
- Community Service
- Fines ranging from $500-$10,000
- Suspension or revocation of license
What Defenses Do I Have?Some defenses that may be used to mitigate or eliminate one¿s culpability for child endangerment while driving under the influence can include: - No knowledge that the child was in the car
- A defense advocating that the tests used to determine sobriety administered by the police officers were flawed due to faulty equipment or improper training
- Contributory negligence by the minor¿s parent or guardian who should have known or knew the driver was unfit to provide transportation for the minor
Should I Consult an Experienced Attorney for Child Endangerment and DUI Issues?If your child was a passenger of a car with a drunk driver, you should speak to a lawyer to learn how to get compensation for any injuries he/she may have suffered. If you have been arrested for Drunk Driving DUI DWI with a child passenger, you should speak to a lawyer immediately to learn more about your rights, your defenses and the complicated legal system. |
