WESTBURY, N.Y. — A 22-year-old Westbury woman was arrested late Sunday night after police say she was found driving while intoxicated with a 3-month-old child in her vehicle, triggering charges under New York’s Leandra’s Law.
According to the Nassau County Police Department, officers stopped a white 2013 Honda Civic shortly before midnight on June 22, 2025. The vehicle, driven by Michelle Lopez of Circle Drive, was reportedly traveling northbound on Merrick Avenue near Stewart Avenue without a front license plate.
During the traffic stop, officers said they observed signs of impairment including slurred speech, watery eyes, and a strong odor of alcohol. A Standardized Field Sobriety Test was administered, which police said resulted in positive indicators of intoxication. Lopez was arrested without incident at the scene.
Police confirmed that a 3-month-old female passenger was in the vehicle at the time. The infant was safely released to a family member. No injuries were reported during the incident.
Lopez is charged with Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated under Leandra’s Law, two counts of Driving While Intoxicated, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and multiple vehicle and traffic violations. She was scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, June 23, 2025, at First District Court in Hempstead.
Leandra’s Law, enacted in 2009, imposes harsher penalties for driving under the influence with a child under 16 in the vehicle, elevating the offense to a felony in New York State.
