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St. Paul Mom Accused Of Showing Up Drunk To Drive Girl

ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- A St. Paul mother is facing DWI charges for allegedly driving drunk to pick her daughter up from school, according to authorities.

On Friday at 12:35 p.m., police responded to the report of a suspected drunk driver at Monroe Elementary School, which is located on 810 Palace Ave. in St. Paul.

According to the criminal complaint, the principal reported that an 8-year-old student had come to school and stated that something was wrong with the mother and that she was too drunk or high to drive.

The complaint said that they were there to pick up the student's sister.

When police arrived, police officers noticed a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage in driver's car, identified as 44-year-old Tina Marie Ramirez, the complaint said. The principal had already taken the mother's keys.

Ramirez allegedly admitted to police to drinking a half-pint of vodka. Standard field sobriety tests were not given because Ramirez fell down when she got out of the car.

After she was taken to police headquarters and used her phone, Ramirez agreed to take the Intoxilyzer Breath Test. It showed a .30 BAC a little over an hour after the stop.

Ramirez was charged with two gross misdemeanor counts of second-degree driving while impaired. If convicted of all charges, she faces a maximum sentence of 2 years in prison and/or a $6,000 fine.

Ramirez has no DWI convictions on her driving record.

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