The 26-year-old driver, identified as Isabella Fernanda Saenz, was arrested after officers say her 5-year-old daughter stood in the backseat with about half her body hanging out the window while the car traveled on a major road. Saenz reportedly had “glossy” eyes, failed a breathalyzer with a blood alcohol content above 0.12%, and told police she had one margarita after leaving a Miramar birthday party. She was booked on Sept. 14, 2026, and faces charges of Neglect Child Without Great Bodily Harm (a third-degree felony) and DUI — 1st Offense. Saenz is presumed innocent as the case proceeds through the courts.
Florida Mother Arrested After 5-Year-Old Was Seen Hanging Out Car Window; Faces DUI and Child Neglect Charges
Image Credit: Broward County Sheriff's Office Booking Blotter.
A 26-year-old Florida woman was arrested after police say her 5-year-old daughter was seen standing in the back seat with roughly half of her body hanging out of the car window while the vehicle was traveling on a major roadway.
Local10 News identifies the driver as Isabella Fernanda Saenz. According to the arrest report obtained by the outlet, Saenz told officers she did not know what her daughter was doing behind her when the vehicle was stopped.
The officer who authored the report said Saenz had “glossy” eyes during their interaction, which prompted a field sobriety evaluation. The report states she subsequently failed a breathalyzer; booking information lists her blood alcohol content as above 0.12%, higher than Florida’s legal limit of 0.08%.
Records from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office Booking Blotter show Saenz was stopped just after 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2026 and was booked on Sept. 14, 2026. Saenz told officers she was leaving “a kid’s birthday party in Miramar” and admitted to having a single margarita at the event.
The arrest report also alleges the vehicle crossed over a solid white line while the child remained partially out the window, and that the car was traveling on a major road at the time. The Booking Blotter lists two charges: Neglect Child Without Great Bodily Harm and DUI Alcohol Or Drugs — 1st Offense.
Legal context: The law firm Ratzan & Faccidomo, LLC notes the neglect charge is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison or a $5,000 fine. The National College for DUI Defense explains that Florida law includes multiple ways to charge DUI-related offenses and penalties vary; first-time DUI penalties often include probation, fines, license suspension, or classes, but having a young child present can lead to stiffer consequences.
Saenz no longer appears in the Broward County Sheriff’s Office online database, which suggests she likely posted bond and was released. She remains presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. There were no publicly available updates on her court date at the time of reporting.
Sources: Local10 News, Broward County Sheriff’s Office Booking Blotter, National College for DUI Defense, Ratzan & Faccidomo, LLC.
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