SHEBOYGAN – A 41-year-old Sheboygan mom faces multiple charges after she had her 12-year-old daughter driver her car after she was drinking.
According to the criminal complaint, the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office was called to I-43 at County Road V on Sunday, March 18 around 5:30 p.m. -- after a 911 caller reported a child driving a Chevy Equinox SUV on the freeway while sitting on her mother’s lap.
The deputy caught up to the vehicle and performed a traffic stop. When the deputy approached the vehicle, he noted a strong smell of intoxicants coming from inside. He also saw the 12-year-old girl was in the back seat and the mother, Amanda Hauke, was behind the wheel.
The mother initially denied that the girl was driving the car in her lap – but later admitted that it was true. The 12-year-old girl also told the deputy that she did this.
During a field sobriety test, the mother admitted to drinking roughly four hours before she was pulled over. A preliminary breath test was performed and showed Hauke’s blood alcohol level was .126. She was then arrested.
After she was arrested, Hauke then admitted to authorities she had consumed “a couple glasses of wine with a co-worker at a bar between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. that afternoon.”
District Attorney Joel Urmanksi appreciated the 911 caller's actions.
"And even if these people had been wrong, even if there was nothing here, just reporting it so someone could check it out if we have communities come together to enforce what's right and wrong all communities are better and we're all safer," Urmanski said.
Hauke is charged with:
• Operating while intoxicated - 1st offense, with a minor child in the vehicle (misdemeanor)
• Operating with prohibited alcohol concentration - 1st offense, with a minor child in the vehicle (misdemeanor)
• Second degree recklessly endangering safety (felony)
She will be back in court on May 2.
