A 30-year-old El Paso woman was arrested early Sunday in Canutillo after deputies say she was driving while intoxicated with her 2-year-old and 4-month-old in the car. Both children were removed from the vehicle, and she was taken into custody on a felony DWI charge involving child passengers.
El Paso County Sheriff’s deputies say they pulled over Cristina Zeigler shortly before 1 a.m. because her vehicle did not have license plate lights and that she showed signs of impairment, according to KVIA. The sheriff’s office said Zeigler, 30, has a prior DWI conviction and was booked into the county detention facility, with bond set at $5,000. The agency identified the children as a 2-year-old and a 4-month-old.
What the Charge Carries
Driving while intoxicated with a child passenger is a state jail felony under Texas law. It can carry 180 days to two years in state jail and fines up to $10,000, according to Texas Penal Code 749.045. The statute applies when a person is intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle and a passenger younger than 15 is in the car. In some situations, prior intoxication convictions or other aggravating factors can increase penalties under related provisions.
Local Pattern and Enforcement
The arrest lands amid other recent Borderland traffic stops where deputies say kids were in the vehicle during an alleged DWI. In February, a stop ended with deputies charging a driver after finding an unsecured 11-month-old in the car, as per Hoodline. Local prosecutors have signaled they want to clamp down harder on these cases: the El Paso District Attorney’s office has said it is exploring higher fines and changes to how repeat DWI offenders are classified, per KVIA.
What’s Next
Zeigler was booked into the El Paso County detention facility and faces prosecution in county court. An arraignment date was not listed in the initial notice. The charges remain allegations, and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Authorities did not immediately say whether child protective services were notified.
