Chick-fil-A Employee Reports DUI
Florida Mother Charged with DUI After Chick-fil-A Employee Reports Impaired Driving
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A Florida mother was arrested on a DUI charge after a Chick-fil-A drive-thru employee noticed something was wrong and called 911, according to KOLD. Police stopped her vehicle and found a bottle of tequila sitting in the passenger seat. Her breath test came back at more than double Florida's legal blood-alcohol limit of 0.08.
The incident is drawing attention nationwide as an example of a fast-food worker stepping in to protect public safety. The employee's decision to pick up the phone may have prevented a serious accident, authorities say, according to WAFF.
Drive-Thru Worker Noticed Slurred Words, Dialed 911
The Chick-fil-A employee grew concerned when the woman pulled up to the drive-thru window, according to WCAX. The driver was slurring her words badly enough that the worker felt compelled to call 911. It is not clear exactly what was ordered or how long the interaction lasted before the call was made.
Police responded quickly and located the woman's vehicle after it left the restaurant, according to KY3. When officers made contact, they found an open bottle of tequila on the passenger seat next to her. A child was also reported to be in the vehicle at the time.
Breath Test Shows BAC More Than Double Legal Limit
Officers conducted a breath test on the driver at the scene. The result came back at more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 in Florida, according to WNEM. A reading that high means significant impairment — slowed reactions, poor judgment, and loss of coordination.
Florida law sets 0.08 as the cutoff for DUI. Drivers caught above that limit face fines, license suspension, and possible jail time. A reading above 0.15 is considered aggravated DUI in Florida and carries stiffer penalties, according to WILX.
Child in Car Adds Serious Weight to the Charges
The presence of a child in the vehicle could significantly increase the legal consequences the mother faces, according to WALB. In Florida, driving drunk with a minor in the car can result in a child endangerment charge on top of the DUI. That combination can lead to felony charges depending on the child's age.
Authorities have not publicly released the woman's name or the age of the child, according to WSAW. The case has been referred to prosecutors, who will decide what charges to pursue. The mother's current custody status and any bond conditions were not immediately disclosed.
Fast-Food Workers Increasingly Alert to Danger on the Road
This case is not entirely unique. Drive-thru workers across the country have called 911 on impaired or distressed customers in recent years. Their position gives them a rare close-up view of drivers before they get back on the road, according to FOX 8.
Experts say these calls can save lives. Drunk drivers cause roughly 10,000 deaths per year in the United States, according to federal traffic safety data cited by WNDU. A single 911 call from a fast-food window can stop a crash before it ever happens.
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