Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
Given the temptations to imbibe in New Orleans and the benefits of a father-son weekend, Billy Joe Madden of Mississippi probably thought he was doing the right thing taking his son along to serve as designated driver. Still, something looked odd to Louisiana Troopers as they saw the Hattiesburg resident passed out in the passenger seat of his pickup truck as it tooled erratically along Interstate 12 while he son “manned” the wheel and as his unsuspecting daughter slept in the back seat. Seems our responsible drinker and father of two felt it quite proper to let his eight-year old son drive the pickup to Dallas –as in Texas –even as his 4 year-old daughter slept. Troopers were not so sanguine and booked Billy Joe (you just can’t make this up) on two counts of child desertion, parent allowing a minor to drive, open container and two counts of no child restraint and no seatbelt. Both of Madden’s children were turned over to child welfare authorities and were awaiting the arrival of a family member who could take custody of them, police said. Billy Joe remains in jail in lieu of his $1,400.00 bond. Who’d bail him out for this anyway?
Now I am not making light of this incredibly dangerous situation but the shocking absurdity of it all is just stunning. Billy Joe did avoid the DUI charge, but his bid for “Father of the Year” s in real jeopardy. Father knows best? This one knows nothing!
Source: Chicago Tribune
~Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger