Iowa City woman charged after allegedly driving drunk with kids in vehicle

Hunter
11/26/22

An Iowa City woman has been charged with OWI and two counts of child neglect after she allegedly drove while impaired.

According to the police reports, 33-year-old Maria Aguirre-Penaloza of Waterfront Drive was stopped Friday around 2:15 am after driving around a road closure manned by a police officer. Upon contact, she reportedly had bloodshot watery eyes, impaired speech, unsteady balance, and had the odor of ingested alcohol.

Aguirre-Penaloza allegedly admitted to drinking, showed measurable impairment on field tests, and failed a PBT. Her blood-alcohol level was later measured on a Datamaster at .193 percent.

Aguirre-Penaloza’s 9-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son were in the backseat while she was operating the 2007 Hyundai, with no means to protect themselves from the risk of their mother driving while intoxicated.

Aguirre-Penaloza was charged with first offense OWI and two counts of Neglect. If convicted on all counts, she could be sentenced to up to 21 years in prison.