Dad sleeps, lets son, 8, drive on I-12

EnglishLady · Jul 31, 2011

Some ppl just do not deserve to have children

MSN

A Missississippi man let his 8-year-old son drive on Interstate 12 while he slept, Louisiana State Police reported Saturday.

State police said they received a call shortly after 6:30 a.m. Saturday about a green Chevrolet pickup truck driving erratically on the interstate in Livingston Parish. The caller told police that a child appeared to be the driver of the pickup.

Troopers stopped the vehicle, and they said a boy was driving the truck while his father, Billy Joe Madden, 28, of Hattiesburg, Miss., slept in the passenger seat.

Police said that Madden's 4-year-old daughter was riding in the backseat.

After interviewing Madden, troopers said they determined that he was intoxicated and fell asleep while his son drove from Hattiesburg en route toward Dallas.

State police said they arrested Madden and charged him with two counts of child desertion, parent allowing a minor to drive, open container and two counts of no child restraint and no seat belt

According to troopers, the two children were not injured, and they were turned over to he state Child Protective Services waiting for a family member to pick them up.

Madden was booked into the Livingston Parish Jail, and his bond was set at $1,474, police said.

Turtle · Jul 31, 2011

EnglishLady said:
Some ppl just do not deserve to have children

"I'll make that determination, thank you very much." - God

State police said they arrested Madden and charged him with two counts of child desertion, parent allowing a minor to drive, open container and two counts of no child restraint and no seat belt.

Louisiana Child Desertion Law
LSA-R.S. 14:93.2.1

A. Child desertion is the intentional or criminally negligent exposure of a child under the age of ten years, by a person who has the care, custody, or control of the child, to a hazard or danger against which the child cannot reasonably be expected to protect himself, or the desertion or abandonment of such child, knowing or having reason to believe that the child could be exposed to such hazard or danger.

That's an awfully broadly written law, dontcha think? Imagine all of the various and sundry hazards or dangers from which children cannot reasonably be expected to protect themselves. Like, being a passenger in a car. Living in a household where one or both parents smoke. Going out with dad in the gator boat. Walking home from school. Living.

EnglishLady · Jul 31, 2011

Turtle said:
"I'll make that determination, thank you very much." - God

Louisiana Child Desertion Law
LSA-R.S. 14:93.2.1

A. Child desertion is the intentional or criminally negligent exposure of a child under the age of ten years, by a person who has the care, custody, or control of the child, to a hazard or danger against which the child cannot reasonably be expected to protect himself, or the desertion or abandonment of such child, knowing or having reason to believe that the child could be exposed to such hazard or danger.

That's an awfully broadly written law, dontcha think? Imagine all of the various and sundry hazards or dangers from which children cannot reasonably be expected to protect themselves. Like, being a passenger in a car. Living in a household where one or both parents smoke. Going out with dad in the gator boat. Walking home from school. Living.

Okaaay ....

but what about in the situation of the original post?

LDB · Jul 31, 2011

Some people don't deserve children and if God micromanaged, which he doesn't, they wouldn't. For the rest it falls to CPS to act.

scottm4211 · Jul 31, 2011

EnglishLady said:
Okaaay ....

but what about in the situation of the original post?

At least he had the good sense not to drive tired?

OntarioVanMan · Jul 31, 2011

The master of deflection strikes again...gee whiz Turtle....

The facts IF presented to the court as is, will find this guy guilty...

Did he father put his child in harms way? Yes....Guilty....
Does it fit the description of the law as written...Yes....

EnglishLady · Jul 31, 2011

scottm4211 said:
At least he had the good sense not to drive tired?

Asleep because he was drunk

"After interviewing Madden, troopers said they determined that he was intoxicated and fell asleep while his son drove from Hattiesburg en route toward Dallas"

scottm4211 · Jul 31, 2011

I'm a glass is half full type (jk)

EnglishLady said:
Asleep because he was drunk

"After interviewing Madden, troopers said they determined that he was intoxicated and fell asleep while his son drove from Hattiesburg en route toward Dallas"