Which offense is committed when a person is intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle in a public place and the vehicle is occupied by a passenger younger than 15?

• A. Boating while Intoxicated
• B. Intoxication Manslaughter
• C. Driving while Intoxicated with Child Passenger
• D. Intoxication Assault

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that Texas increases the severity of a DWI when a child under 15 is in the vehicle. If a person is intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle in a public place and a passenger younger than 15 is present, the charge is Driving While Intoxicated with a Child Passenger. This is a specific, enhanced offense because a minor is involved, reflecting the greater danger to children.

Why this fits best: it directly matches both required elements—intoxication while driving and a child in the car under 15. The other offenses don’t apply to this scenario: boating while intoxicated covers watercraft, intoxication manslaughter requires death caused by intoxication, and intoxication assault involves serious bodily injury to someone, not specifically a child passenger under 15 in a standard DWI situation.

Context to keep in mind: if there were no child under 15, it would be the regular DWI; if a death occurs, charges could escalate to intoxication manslaughter or other offenses depending on the outcome; if the child is injured (but not killed), the charge could involve other related offenses. The child passenger enhancement is what makes this particular situation the driving while intoxicated with a child passenger.