Police appalled at drunk driving mother's behavior

Appalling and distressing behaviour is how Waikato Police describe the actions of a mother who placed herself and her young child at risk after performing an alcohol impaired dangerous driving manoeuvre in Hamilton this afternoon.

Waikato Road Policing Services Team Leader, Senior Sergeant Kevin Anderson, said the incident happened on SH3/Ohaupo Rd near the intersection with Hamilton's Urlich Ave about 3pm.

"The 25-year-old woman was stopped by one of our staff when he noticed a car perform a U-turn in front of oncoming traffic and what appeared to be a small child being tossed about in the front of the car.

"On stopping the car the officer noticed two things of major concern for us, one a three-year-old child had been travelling standing up in the front passenger seat foot-well of the car and two, the mother appeared to have been drinking."

Just how much she had been drinking became apparent to officers Mr Anderson said, when she returned a breath alcohol test result of 679mgms.

"If that wasn't bad enough, the woman was found to be driving in breach of her learner licence. Graduated licences are in place for a reason, to allow drivers to gain the necessary skills and it is very disappointing to see such a combination of events is very disappointing.

"To make matters worse, travelling in the back seat of the car was an intoxicated pregnant woman who was smoking. This woman was stopped by the same officer last week and had her car impounded for driving while forbidden, considering what has occurred we really need to look at the messages we're sending to our kids because in this case they are the wrong ones."

Mr Anderson said the situation of a driver performing potentially dangerous acts that put herself, her child and other motorists at risk at a time of day when schools are emptying out was unacceptable.

"This incident happened at a time when hundreds of kids are hitting the streets. There are children from primary, intermediate and the local high school converging on this intersection at the very time this incident occurred and it is not ok to put so many vulnerable people at risk by such selfish behaviour."

Mr Anderson said the woman is facing excess breath alcohol and child neglect charges and is likely to appear in the Hamilton District Court later this week.

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