A Marion County (just west of Chattanooga) woman, 32-year-old Lisa Marie Palmer was charged after authorities found her driving ahead of her daughters as she made them walk to school.

Palmer was driving ahead of her children and allowing them to catch up to her car until the kids reached the school. Palmer told deputies that her daughters were being punished for missing the bus.

The girls had walked more than a mile and had about two more miles to go.

“Temperatures were cold, and traffic was beginning to become heavy with citizens heading to work,” Deputy Ladd said. “Mrs. Palmer was in no position to reach her children safely in the event of an emergency.”

Palmer is scheduled for an initial court appearance on April 18. Court officials say she doesn’t have an attorney yet.