Mich. man who made 9-year-old daughter "designated driver" ordered to stand trial

(CBS/AP) WOODHAVEN, Mich. - A judge has ordered a Detroit-area man to stand trial on charges that he made his 9-year-old daughter his designated driver one night when he had been drinking.

On Tuesday, Judge Michael McNally of the Woodhaven District Court ruled that the 39-year-old should face trial for second-degree child abuse.

The Detroit Free Press says Weimer's defense attorney, David Steingold, called the felony charge against him "totally inappropriate" in a brief last week, and asked for the child abuse charge to be dropped.

Steingold reportedly gave an argument based on the driving abilities of the 9-year-old as well as the traffic volume at the time of the alleged incident. He stated the girl had experience behind the wheel - remember, she's 9 - and according to witnesses was a good driver, even using the correct turn signal when driving the van.

The prosecution responded that allowing a 9-year-old to drive a van in major intersections was a "reckless act that was likely to cause serious physical harm."

The newspaper said Steingold admitted that altthough that may have been possible, there isn't an indication that it was likely to happen.

Weimer's daughter testified last week about driving her father's van. She said he had drank half a bottle of whiskey and that she agreed to drive but felt, "a little scared."

In addition to felony child abuse, Weimer will face charges of fourth-degree abuse, a misdemeanor, and allowing an unlicensed person to drive.