32-year-old woman charged after allegedly drunk driving with child in car

A 32-year-old woman from Vaughan has been charged for allegedly driving impaired after a citizen called 911 to report her.

According to a York Regional Police release, on September 6 just after 5 pm, officers received a call about a suspected impaired driver in the area of Bathurst Street and Highway 7 in Vaughan.

Police were told a sport utility vehicle was seen swerving “all over Bathurst Street” and also striking a curb.

Officers managed to locate and stop the vehicle westbound on Centre Street, by Vaughan Boulevard, according to the release.

Upon coming in contact with the driver, they allegedly found signs of “being impaired by alcohol” and happened to also find open cans of beer within the car.

A nine-year-old boy was also found in the back seat of the vehicle without a seat belt.

The woman was placed under arrest, and as the investigation continued, they found that she was on her way home to her three-year-old child, who had been left home alone but with no harm.

“The children were turned over to their father and the Children’s Aid Society was contacted and has been engaged in this ongoing investigation,” said police.

She was then taken to #4 District Headquarters for a breath test, which she allegedly failed.

The woman was charged with Impaired Driving, 80 Plus, Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Criminal Negligence and Abandon Child Under 10 Years.

“In 2019, York Regional Police received 3,500 calls to 911 reporting suspected impaired drivers as part of our Safe Roads, Your Call program. That was an increase of nearly 18 per cent from the previous year,” said police in the release.

“Many of those calls led to the more than 1,700 impaired-related criminal charges laid. If you see dangerous driving on the road that could jeopardize the safety of motorists and pedestrians, you are encouraged to call 9-1-1 immediately.”

York Regional Police reminds residents that the safest amount of alcohol or drugs to consume before you drive is zero.