A woman, who arrived at a McDonald's drive-thru intoxicated with a child in the car, has been charged with DUI.
The incident occurred in Massachusetts, where the 28-year-old woman apparently arrived at a McDonald's drive-thru in an intoxicated condition. Employees who noticed that she was driving under the influence of alcohol with a toddler in the car called police officers. The police arrested her at the restaurant, and she was held overnight. She faces charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, and the risk of injury to a minor.
The matter is now not only a DUI matter, but also a family law matter. The child has been released into relatives’ custody, and the woman is currently under investigation by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.
Researchers over the past few years has shown an increasing number of women, especially mothers being arrested on charges of DUI. Earlier this year, another study pointed out that between 2003 and 2012, there was a significant increase in the number of women arrested for drunk driving. Over this period of time, that number increased by nearly 20%.
Sociologists believe that the increasing number of DUI arrests involving women has to do with a more liberal atmosphere that encourages women to drink. Economic and financial independence is also being pointed to as a factor as more women go to work, and have the financial means to drink on their own.
According to sociologists, mothers may struggle with stress, fatigue, and trying to balance work, home and family life. All that stress increases the risk that they will reach out for the bottle. When such women, who have had a couple of drinks to relive stress, get behind the wheel of a car, they are very likely to be arrested for DUI.
