A late-night traffic stop on northbound I-15 near 600 South turned serious on Oct. 5, 2025, when a Utah Highway Patrol trooper pulled over a speeding car and discovered two unrestrained 4-year-olds in the back seat, along with a bag of marijuana at their feet.
According to troopers, the vehicle, driven by a 24-year-old West Valley City man, had been drifting out of its lane and was clocked at about 85 miles per hour before it was stopped. The driver reportedly showed signs of impairment, and officers placed him under arrest at the scene. The two children were not in child safety seats, authorities say, and no restraints were in use. The driver now faces multiple charges, including child endangerment and driving under the influence with young passengers in the car.
Traffic Stop And Test Results
According to ABC4 Utah, the driver was identified as 24-year-old Carlos Daniel Quinones-Larios. Troopers reported that he registered a 0.156 on a portable breath test during the stop, and a warrant-authorized blood draw later showed a 0.145 blood alcohol concentration along with the presence of THC.
The trooper’s report, as cited by ABC4 Utah, states that Quinones-Larios had difficulty with fine-motor tasks, smelled strongly of alcohol and admitted to consuming up to four alcoholic drinks before driving. Court documents list a long slate of charges, including two counts of endangerment of a child, two counts of driving under the influence with passengers under 16, one count of driving without a license, two counts of failure to provide a child restraint device, reckless driving and several possession-related counts.
A public booking entry for Oct. 5 lists a 24-year-old Carlos Quinones-Larios among those arrested that day and shows he was processed at the Salt Lake County Metro Jail, according to a public arrest log listing. The log notes his age and processing date, and records indicate he has since been released pending prosecution.
Children Unrestrained, Marijuana Found
Court documents and the arresting trooper’s report, summarized by ABC4 Utah, state that both children were later confirmed to be 4 years old and were neither buckled in nor placed in appropriate child seats. On the floor near their feet, officers say they found a bag labeled “Deep Roots Harvest Cannabis.” Investigators report that Quinones-Larios admitted the marijuana belonged to him and that he did not have a medical marijuana card. A summons was issued ordering him to appear at the upcoming court hearings.
Local Context And Policy Debate
Unsafe driving by unlicensed motorists has become a recurring concern along the Wasatch Front, and state lawmakers have been wrestling with proposals aimed at getting unlicensed drivers and their vehicles off the road. A 2025 Deseret News analysis of West Valley City crash data and pending legislation outlines the safety arguments behind those efforts.
What’s Next
Quinones-Larios faces a combination of felony and misdemeanor counts. Those charges remain allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Prosecutors and court clerks will set formal hearing dates as the case moves through the district court system, and public court calendars are expected to provide updated information on his upcoming appearances.
