Prosecutors say a man was caught driving with an unrestrained two-year-old in the car near Zion while being almost three times over the legal drinking limit.
Jose Marcos, 23, of Waukegan, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence, two counts of driving under the influence and driving without a license.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Kelse Banks said during a bond hearing Tuesday that officers observed a vehicle at the Illinois Beach State Park in unincorporated Zion on Monday.
The officers observed a passenger exit the vehicle and place empty beer bottles in the trash can.
The vehicle then drove off and officers observed it driving into oncoming traffic, Banks said.
A traffic stop was conducted by Illinois Department of Natural Resources conservation police officers and contact was made with Marcos, who was the driver.
Two adults were passengers in the car. Banks said a 2-year-old child, who was not in a car seat, was sitting on one of the passenger’s laps.
Officers smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from Marcos’ breath.
Marcos, who “could barely stand” on his own, had a blood alcohol content of .201, Banks said. The legal drinking limit for drivers in Illinois is 0.08.
Marcos only had a Mexican consulate card on him but no driver’s license and no valid car insurance, Banks said.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak noted Marcos’ high blood alcohol content and the 2-year-old being in the car as factors before ordering him held on a $30,000 bond.
Marcos would need to post $3,000 cash in order to be released from the Lake County Jail.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on June 9.