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Deputies: Tampa Man Driving Drunk Had 6 Children In Car

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TBO.com

Published: December 31, 2008

Updated: 12/31/2008 10:19 am

TAMPA - Six children were passengers in a vehicle driven by a man under the influence of alcohol Tuesday night, and they weren't wearing seat belts, Hillsborough County deputies say.

Deputies arrested Carlos Rodriguez, 23, of Tampa. He was charged with six counts of child neglect and one count each of driving under the influence and not having a valid driver's license.

About 11:01 p.m., Lt. Dan Tewmey pulled over Rodriguez's 1991 Chevrolet at Dale Mabry Highway near Valley Ranch Drive. Its tail lights weren't on, deputies say.

Rodriguez's girlfriend was in the car, as were six of her juvenile family members, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office news release. The children are ages 7, 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14.

Deputies smelled alcohol on Rodriguez's breath and saw he had bloodshot, glassy eyes and slurred speech, and he failed a field sobriety test, according to a criminal arrest affidavit. Breath tests showed his blood-alcohol level at 0.158 and 0.159. Florida law presumes a driver impaired with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or greater.

Rodriguez remained in Orient Road Jail today. His bail was set at $45,750.

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