A New Jersey mayor is in hot water after police arrested her for a DUI on St. Patrick’s Day. If that wasn’t bad enough, the Lumberton mayor had her toddler in her BMW at the time of the crime. 

Police arrested Lumberton, NJ Mayor Gina LaPlaca for a DUI, child endangerment, neglect, and driving on an expired license

St. Patrick’s Day has a bit of a reputation for, well, overindulgence in the United States. Green garb, clovers everywhere, and, of course, green beer. Consequently, it’s also a top day for drunk driving. As such, police officers nationwide look that much harder for inebriated motorists. This year, one of those drunk drivers was a twice-elected mayor of Lumberton Township, New Jersey.  

According to The Independent, Lumberton Township Police Department officers arrested Mayor Gina LaPlaca for a DUI on St. Patrick’s Day. The police complaint says the 45-year-old New Jersey mayor had consumed alcohol before driving to collect her two-year-old toddler from his daycare service.

A bystander recorded LaPlaca driving “erratically” in her six-year-old BMW. She reportedly swerved across multiple lanes and nearly struck a light post. LaPlaca admitted to the authorities that she had been drinking prior to picking up her son from daycare.

After admitting that detail to the police, she took a field sobriety test. The police report didn’t reveal details about her performance during the sobriety test. However, the test is a common tool police use to determine whether a motorist is drunk or not. Needless to say, police arrested LaPlaca for a DUI after the test. 

Worse yet, court documentation stated that LaPlaca “appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the offense.” Sadly, it didn’t stop there. Police found LaPlaca’s son in his car seat in the back of the BMW. What’s more, a search of the vehicle revealed an open alcohol container. On top of the DUI charge, authorities charged her with child endangerment and driving with an expired license, among other offenses.