Child Endangerment due to Underage Passengers
Drunk driving will get you into lots of trouble. Drunk driving with children in your car is even worse, when you consider the added risk and increased punishments. But for one Indiana man driving under the influence here in Michigan, those poor choices were only the beginning of his troubles.
Police records show that Mitchell Majewski, a 34-year-old from Mishawaka, Indiana, was arrested by Van Buren County Sheriff’s Deputies in Decatur Township recently. He was apparently driving on M-51 just outside of Decatur when officers noticed his vehicle drifting in and out of the lane.
It was about 7:30 in the evening when officers noticed this and, suspecting the driver might be under the influence of alcohol, pulled him over. According to deputies on the scene at the time, Majewski was visibly intoxicated and had an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.
Also in the vehicle with him were his two children – a 9-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy. Officers ran his license and discovered that not only was it suspended in both Indiana and Michigan, but there was also a misdemeanor warrant out for his arrest in the 5th District Court in Niles, Michigan.
Thankfully family members were available to come and take the two children from the scene of the arrest. This is always preferable to police, who would otherwise have to turn the children over to CPS until family could be located.
Deputies arrested Majewski on charges of drunk driving and child endangerment. He is being held in the Van Buren County Jail until his arraignment. According to the officers, the case is being passed on to the Van Buren County Prosecutor’s Office, where additional charges may yet be added.
Under Michigan law, transporting a child under the age of 16 in your vehicle while under the influence of alcohol is considered child endangerment. If this is his first offense Majewski could be looking at a misdemeanor charge punishable by up to $1,000 in fines, possibly a year in jail and up to 90 days of community service. In addition, he may lose his already suspended license.
In addition, he may yet be charged for driving on a suspended license and might also have to deal with charges stemming from the outstanding warrant.
