Pittsburgh Woman Arrested for Speeding While Under the Influence of Marijuana with 3-Year-Old Daughter in the Car

A Pittsburgh woman is facing multiple charges after being caught speeding while allegedly high on marijuana, with her 3-year-old daughter in the backseat of the car. Mary Kate Slattery, a 35-year-old resident of Pittsburgh, has been charged with several offenses, including endangering the welfare of children, carrying a firearm without a license, reckless endangerment, possession of a small amount of marijuana for personal use, driving under the influence, and six summary traffic offenses.

Slattery’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 8, 2023, before District Judge David Sosovicka.

According to court documents, the incident took place on December 23, when a state trooper spotted a maroon Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling at 87 mph in a 55 mph zone along Route 28 southbound in Harmar. The trooper initiated a traffic stop and noticed that Slattery, the driver, had a delayed reaction to the emergency lights and sirens. The car eventually came to a stop, still in the right travel lane.

During the traffic stop, law enforcement officers detected a strong odor of burnt marijuana emanating from Slattery’s vehicle. They also discovered her 3-year-old daughter in the backseat, who was not properly secured in a child seat. Slattery explained to the police that she had a booster seat in the car, but chose not to use it due to a perceived dirt mark on it.

Further investigation revealed that Slattery did not possess a medical marijuana card. She admitted to smoking marijuana the day before and informed the officers about the presence of a “roach” in the vehicle. Field sobriety testing indicated that Slattery displayed multiple signs of impairment, leading to her arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.

In addition to the marijuana-related charges, police found a handgun on the front passenger seat of the car. Slattery claimed ownership of the firearm, but did not possess a concealed carry permit.