Child Endangerment

You don't have to search very far to discover stories involving DUI charges and child endangerment on the internet. Recently, a woman with a BAC level twice the legal limit was pulled over and arrested. She was driving with her ten-year-old daughter in the backseat. The woman was charged with drunk driving, child endangerment and driving to endanger. Another man was pulled over for driving with a BAC level twice the legal limit and also for having marijuana in his system; he had an unrestrained five year old in his car.

In another story, two women were cited for drunk driving, with four children, including two infants, in the back of the car with them, none of whom were secured in car seats. The adult driver was arrested on four counts of child endangerment, one count of aggravated DUI, not having a driver's license and driving with an open container of alcohol. The adult passenger was arrested on four counts of child endangerment and one count of public intoxication.

Child endangerment is considered a separate charge in Georgia, and involves the transportation of minors under the age of 14. Most often, a child endangerment charge means you will face additional jail time and a longer suspension of your driver's license.

When this occurs, even a first time DUI offender can be in big trouble: if you drove drunk, endangering two children, you could receive a five year license suspension for receiving three DUI convictions in a five year period (two counts of child endangerment and one count of drunk driving). This can result in an offender receiving a habitual violator status, being prosecuted for a felony and facing up to five years in prison. Child endangerment is treated very aggressively by Georgia court officials. If you have been charged with this serious crime, you should secure a DUI attorney on your side immediately!