Daily Dad News

Drunk Father Who Let 9-Year Old Daughter Drive Car Sentenced To Probation

February 23, 2012

AP Photo/The Detroit News, David Guralnick

A Michigan father who was too intoxicated to drive and allowed his nine-year old daughter to take the wheels has been sentenced to two years probation. In October of 2011, Shawn Weimer had been drinking and his daughter, now 10, took control of his work van and drove to a local gas station. Speaking to clerks inside the gas station in his drunken, Weimer bragged that his daughter was a good driver.

Shortly after, a citizen alerted authorities that Weimer’s daughter was operating the car. A report from the Detroit News said that the girl was shocked to be pulled over, stating she had been driving “pretty good.”

Weimer plead guilty in December to the charges of allowing an unlicensed minor to operate a vehicle and second-degree child abuse. A third child abuse charge was dropped as part of the plea deal. After paying court costs, Weimer’s guilty plea also saved him from serving jail time.

Weimer was remorseful, however. “Your honor, I'd like to say I'm sorry for the trouble I caused," said Weimer to the judge ruling over the case. The judge’s words to Weimer at the end of the hearing were succinct. “Just take care of your child,” said Judge Margie Braxton of the Wayne County Circuit Court.

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