St. Charles Police: Intoxicated Woman Let 8-Year-Old Drive

A St. Charles woman faces multiple charges after police saw her at a stop sign get out of the passenger side of a sport utility vehicle, re-enter on the driver side and take off, making a right turn in the process.

The scene unfolded before the eyes of an officer approached Oak and 19th streets at 6:55 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 2013. The officer stopped the vehicle after it made a right turn without signaling. As the officer approached the vehicle to talk with Cathleen A. Sams, 48, of the 200 block of Fairview Drive, he saw that the only other person inside was an 8-year-old boy.

According to the report, the officer asked Sams why the boy was driving, and she replied he had only driven a short time — from her home on Fairview to Oak and 19th. As the conversation unfolded, the officer noticed Sams appeared to have been drinking.

Sams was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI-blood-alcohol concentration greater than .08, failure to signal a turn, permitting an unauthorized person to drive, and child endangerment. Her blood-alcohol level was .175, police said.

Police said the Department of Children and Family Services was contacted.


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