A Florida mom is in serious trouble after cops pulled her over for a traffic stop. According to WPLG Local 10, a 25-year-old woman was arrested when police watched her weaving in and out of traffic in Miramar. What looked like a potential DUI quickly took a turn when officers saw what was sitting on her front seat.
According to the report, the woman had been driving recklessly with an unrestrained infant in the passenger seat. Police said they also noted the smell of alcohol on the driver, who was identified as Tylasia Bennett.
Now, Bennett faces a number of charges as a result of the traffic stop, including child neglect without great bodily harm. The incident took place on Friday, and it sounds like the new mom is still behind bars.
Here’s what we know.
Drivers Called 911 After Watching Bennett Weaving in and out of Traffic
Sometime around 11:30 p.m. local time, officers were called to Miramar Parkway and 184th Avenue after drivers reported seeing a silver Ford driving erratically, according to WPLG Local 10. It sounds like the Ford almost collided with an 18-wheeler during the incident, and drivers were worried about what was happening.
Once they arrived, officers found the car parked with the engine still running and a 2-month-old baby sitting in the passenger seat. The police report seen by the publication noted that the child was “not properly restrained or secured in a child safety seat.”
The Baby Had Been Crying During the Drive
When questioned about the baby’s lack of a car seat, Bennett reportedly told officers that “the baby had been crying, so she moved it to the front seat.” When they asked why the baby was also covered in food, the driver went on to say that she’d accidentally dropped food on the infant.
After they asked her to step out of the car, officers reported that Bennett failed the field sobriety tests and was taken into custody.
Bennett Now Faces Multiple Charges
The new mom is in a lot of trouble with the law as a result of her arrest, and she has been charged with child neglect without great bodily harm, driving under the influence, and driving with a suspended license. According to Online Sunshine, the 2025 Florida Statutes for these crimes can carry steep penalties.
For example, driving under the influence can carry a fine of between $500 and $1,000 and no more than 6 months in prison for first-time offenders. However, when a minor is in the car at the time of the incident, those penalties can be enhanced.
Add in the child endangerment charge — which the Hornsby Law Firm says can cost you up to $5,000 and up to five years in prison if convicted — and Bennett could find herself in some very deep trouble.
Of course, Bennett should be considered innocent until proven guilty. And without any further information about her hearing or whether she’s had a chance to plead guilty or not guilty to these crimes before a judge, nobody knows for certain what really went on during that Friday night drive.