DCF Takes Custody of Child After Mother is Arrested on DUI Charges

A recent newspaper article discussed how a 4-year-old boy was placed into the care of the Florida Department of Children and Families after the child’s mother was arrested in Miami Beach, authorities said. According to an arrest report from the Miami Beach Police Department, officers were conducting a DUI checkpoint early on Sunday morning in the area of Fifth Street and Meridian Avenue when they pulled over a black Hyundai Tucson. According to police, a young boy was moving around in the back seat, “from seat to seat without any restraining device.”

According to police, they smelled a “strong odor” of alcoholic beverage coming from the driver, a 29-year-old woman from Miami, as they were conducting their traffic stop. Officers also say that they saw an open Budweiser beer can in the center console. The report indicates that the child was in the backseat with his grandmother and the grandmother’s boyfriend. Police say that the suspect was asked to step out of the vehicle where she agreed to perform field sobriety exercises. Police say that her attempts to perform the field sobriety exercises were unsuccessful. After around 20 minutes, authorities say that she agreed to provide a breath sample, which indicated that her blood alcohol content was .137 which is considerably greater than the legal limit of .08. A second sample determined that her BAC was .147, according to the police report.

The mother was subsequently arrested on charges of child neglect without great bodily harm and driving under the influence.

Can you lose your children after a DUI in Florida? 

While it’s illegal to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol in the State of Florida, driving under the influence with a child in the vehicle is an even more severe offense. In this case, the woman’s child was taken into custody by the Florida Department of Children and Families after she was arrested for DUI. A DUI can have a profound impact on your rights as a parent to take responsibility for your children.

In Florida, a DUI conviction can impact how a family court assesses your custody case. A DUI could result in restricted visitation, a requirement for supervised visits, or a reduction in parental responsibility if the court believes you pose a risk to your child’s well-being. The court will consider factors such as the severity of the DUI and your history of similar offenses.

While a single DUI won’t automatically result in a child being taken away from their parents, it could raise concerns about the safety of the child, particularly if there is evidence of an ongoing alcohol problem.

Talk to an Orlando, FL DUI Attorney Today 

FL DUI Group represents the interests of Orlando residents in DUI cases. Call our Florida DUI defense lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin preparing your defense right away.

Source:

local10.com/news/local/2025/03/17/dcf-takes-custody-of-child-after-mother-arrested-on-dui-charge-in-miami-beach/