A routine traffic stop in El Paso turned into a felony arrest when deputies say they found an 11-month-old riding in the back seat with no properly secured car seat. The driver, identified as 45-year-old Anthony Alonzo, was taken into custody on a charge of Driving While Intoxicated with a Child Under 15, and authorities say the child was later released to a family member.
Deputies had pulled over a gray Chevrolet Avalanche with New Mexico plates for a defective taillamp when Alonzo began showing signs of impairment, according to KFOX. The outlet reports that a breath test registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.092. Alonzo was arrested and charged with DWI with a child under 15, and deputies say the infant was checked at the scene, then turned over to a relative.
“Driving while intoxicated is dangerous under any circumstance, but placing a child at risk in this manner is completely unacceptable,” Sheriff Oscar Ugarte said, according to KFOX. The sheriff’s office, which provided the photo used by the station, added that deputies will continue targeted enforcement to keep children safe on county roads.
What the law says
Under Texas law, operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a passenger younger than 15 is a state jail felony that carries a punishment range of 180 days to two years in state jail and fines up to $10,000. The charge can also trigger collateral consequences such as driver’s license suspension and possible involvement from child protective services. The full statute is outlined in Texas Penal Code §49.045.
Local pattern
The arrest comes on the heels of other recent cases in which drivers were accused of DWI with children in their vehicles, highlighting a continued local push on impaired-driving enforcement. In one January incident, a crash involving two children in a car led to an arrest after a reported 0.12 BAC, according to KVIA.
Alonzo’s case is expected to move forward through the county criminal system, although the initial notice did not include bond or court date details. Deputies reiterated their standing message that drivers should arrange sober transportation and make sure young passengers are secured in age-appropriate restraints every single trip.
