A Broward County mother has been charged with DUI and child neglect after passing out in the driver's seat of the family car. Her two toddlers were later found wandering the streets miles from their home. The mother, 44-year old Brenda Lee Duclos, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, fell asleep behind the wheel in her driveway prior to picking up her eldest child at school.
After a couple of hours, the driver's two younger children, ages 3 and 4, left the vehicle to find their elder sibling. A concerned citizen contacted police after finding the two toddlers walking the streets alone. Officers responded to the scene and found Duclos passed out in the driver's seat of the running vehicle. She refused to submit to breath or sobriety testing and then subsequently arrested on charges of DUI and child neglect.
The toddlers of the children are currently in the custody of their father. The father has stated to Police that he hopes this arrest is a wake-up call for his wife. Duclos has not posted the $5,000 bond and remains inside the Pompano Beach Jail.
Florida Law permits the arrest of an individual based on the circumstances surrounding the actual, physical control of the vehicle. The offender does not have to literally be driving an automobile for a DUI arrest to take place. The accused is in actual physical control of an automobile if they are in the position to drive. In this case, Duclos sat behind the wheel with the engine running. Officers claimed that the defendant had every intention of driving the vehicle and therefore committed a crime.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a Miami criminal offense, contact an experienced attorney for help with your case. The attorneys at Musca Law have over 100 years of combined legal experience with convenient offices located across the State of Florida. Our attorneys understand that outside circumstances can influence the alleged evidence against a defendant. Contact Musca Law for a free, comprehensive review of your case.
