Police: Woman faces DUI, child abuse charges after driving wrong way on Tampa street

TAMPA — A 26-year-old Clearwater woman faces drunken driving and child abuse charges after she was pulled over while driving the wrong way late Wednesday with a 3-year-old boy in the backseat, police say.

About 11 p.m., Christy Joy Hinz was seen driving her white Ford Mustang the wrong way down Florida Avenue N and weaving in and out of her lane, according to police.

An officer pulled her over at E Emily Street and N Florida Avenue. She had an open beer can between her legs and the smell of alcohol on her breath, according to police.

She showed signs of impairment during a field sobriety test, police say, and refused to submit to a breath test.

"I'm not doing s- - -," she said.

This is Hinz's third arrest for driving under the influence and the third time she has refused to submit to a breath test, police say.

Hinz was arrested about 11:30 p.m. and booked into a Hillsborough County jail on charges of aggravated child abuse, driving under the influence (third or subsequent) and refusal to submit to testing.

Danny Valentine can be reached at dvalentine@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8804.