NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. – A woman was arrested last week on suspicion of driving under the influence after deputies responding to a Chick-fil-A employee’s 911 call found two young children in her car, according to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office.
Robert Grant, public information officer for the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, said the employee reported a mother in the drive-thru who appeared to be slurring her words. Deputies who stopped the vehicle found a 6-year-old and a 1-year-old in the back seat, Grant said.
Video released by the sheriff’s office shows deputies conducting field sobriety checks. Officials said the driver’s breath-test result showed a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.178 — more than double Florida’s legal limit of 0.08 — and deputies found an open bottle of tequila in the passenger seat. The driver was arrested and will face charges, Grant said.
Sheriff Bill Leeper called the incident “a poor choice” that endangered the children and others on the road.
“Those are children that are relying on her for their safety,” he said. “She failed to do that, but thankfully no one was hurt in this case.”
With the Fourth of July holiday approaching, Leeper said deputies will increase patrols looking for impaired drivers. He urged people celebrating to designate a sober driver, use a ride service or stay home. “Celebrate safely,” he said. “Protect yourself and others.”