A Holbrook man was arrested for allegedly driving drunk with a child in the car.
On July 19,Suffolk County Deputy Sheriffs arrested Carlos Moncada Padilla, 44, for Driving While Intoxicated under Leandra’s Law after allegedly operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a 7-month-old child inside.
At approximately 10:45 p.m., Deputy Sheriffs observed a 2013 Dodge Ram traveling westbound on the Long Island Expressway near Exit 65 in Patchogue. The vehicle repeatedly failed to maintain its lane, crossing over the lane markings several times. During the traffic stop, deputies observed that Moncada Padilla had slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, unsteady movements, and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath.
When asked how much he had consumed, he reportedly stated, “Two beers.” Deputies also observed five open glass bottles of Modelo beer inside the vehicle. A 7-month-old child was found in the front passenger seat of the vehicle. The child was not properly secured in an age-appropriate child safety seat as required by law.
Moncada Padilla was arrested and transported to the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters in Riverhead for processing. He was charged with Driving While Intoxicated under Leandra’s Law, among other related offenses.
“Suffolk County Deputy Sheriffs are patrolling our roadways every day to help keep the public safe. This arrest not only removed an impaired driver from our roads but also may have prevented a tragedy involving a young child. I commend our deputies for their vigilance and commitment to protecting the residents of Suffolk County,” said Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr.
Leandra’s Law, also known as the Child Passenger Protection Act, makes it a felony in New York State to operate a motor vehicle while intoxicated with a passenger age 15 or younger. The law is named in memory of 11-year-old Leandra Rosado, who was killed in a 2009 crash on the Henry Hudson Parkway involving an allegedly intoxicated driver.