What steps should be taken to protect kids from being left in a car.

[krkrjx]

That sounds like a deterrent to me. It helps to prevent people from leaving small children in their car because they will be charged with a felony and put into prison. That's some serious consequences. But then again, the ultimate penalty,death,doesn't seem to prevent murders.

I'm just wondering about prosecuting people for felonies where there isn't any physical harm done to anyone. JMO.

So, are you saying that if a baby is in a hot car and a Good Samaritan comes along and gets him out and he recovers fully there should be no consequences for the person who left him there? Should there be consequences only if there is an injury of some sort?

Something has to change. If not a law, then what?? How do you think these hot car injury/death situations should be handled? If there is intent or criminal behavior of some sort they are prosecuted but if they cry and say they forgot they had the child with them or that they were certain they had dropped the baby off at the babysitter...should that be acceptable? Should there be no consequences? Because some are getting away with this.

 

[K_Z]

JMO, but I just don't think this is something we can legislate our way out of. I don't think a law would make a bit of difference, and I'd rather my legislature focus on problems that have a better chance of being fixable, in the very limited amount of time they are in session.

I personally don't think a law would save even one child. The death rates nationally have been stable at about 38 kids per year for a lot of years. I agree that even one child dead is too many, but a law won't prevent the next 38 hot car deaths, IMO.

I think it's an issue that needs a focused and sustained education campaign. Like car seats, and life jackets, and bike helmets.

 

[RANCH]

So, are you saying that if a baby is in a hot car and a Good Samaritan comes along and gets him out and he recovers fully there should be no consequences for the person who left him there? Should there be consequences only if there is an injury of some sort?

Something has to change. If not a law, then what?? How do you think these hot car injury/death situations should be handled? If there is intent or criminal behavior of some sort they are prosecuted but if they cry and say they forgot they had the child with them or that they were certain they had dropped the baby off at the babysitter...should that be acceptable? Should there be no consequences? Because some are getting away with this.

If a baby is left in a hot car that's child abuse in my opinion. Your proposed law is about looking before you lock your car and if you don't look it's a felony. Is there a 15 minute time limit like was posted above? That would make sense. Is there an age limit? A blanket felony charge is a bit troublesome to me.

It's sad but people get away with murder every day in this country. But we need to be careful in how we change things in an attempt to make things better. JMO.

 

[Oblio]

Automatic jail time will only be a deterrent for those who intentionally leave their kids in the car. Most cases are unintentional neglect.

I think it's time for a modification of car seat standards. Buckles that emit a radio frequency when engaged and key fobs that alarm when more than 40 ft away. Tickets for misuse, like attaching fob to seat.

Intentionally skirting the system resulting in death would automatically be prosecuted as manslaughter, much like being at fault in a fatal vehicle collision.

 

[K_Z]

Tonight on the news I heard them say in Georgia it's against the law to.leave a child in the car for more than 15 min,
hence the cops wait until the 16th min arrest the mother today for leaving her 4 children in the car.
I think they had the kids out, but mom didn't appear until 16 min....
I didn't know GA had a law!
Mom is in jail, kids 6,4,2,1in DFACS custody.


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I'm curious, in Georgia do they specify the upper age of what is considered a child, under the law? Like, is a 12 year old considered a child? How about a 10 year old? An 8 year old? What if there is an older child or teen in the car, along with younger kids? How about other vulnerable people, like the elderly? Mentally and physically disabled?

It's hard for me, knowing the onerous bill to law process in my state, to imagine how such a law might be written, and agreed upon? I'm in one of the 30 states that do not have a law.

 

[RANCH]

JMO, but I just don't think this is something we can legislate our way out of. I don't think a law would make a bit of difference, and I'd rather my legislature focus on problems that have a better chance of being fixable, in the very limited amount of time they are in session.

I personally don't think a law would save even one child. The death rates nationally have been stable at about 38 kids per year for a lot of years. I agree that even one child dead is too many, but a law won't prevent the next 38 hot car deaths, IMO.

I think it's an issue that needs a focused and sustained education campaign. Like car seats, and life jackets, and bike helmets.

You make some good points once again. Lets face it, while 38 deaths a year is too many, hot car deaths are not the leading cause of death for children.

Motor vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death among children in the United States.1 But many of these deaths can be prevented. Buckling children in age- and size-appropriate car seats, booster seats, and seat belts reduces the risk of serious and fatal injuries:

Car seat use reduces the risk for death to infants (aged <1 year) by 71%; and to toddlers (aged 1&#8211;4 years) by 54% in passenger vehicles.2
Booster seat use reduces the risk for serious injury by 45% for children aged 4&#8211;8 years when compared with seat belt use alone.3
For older children and adults, seat belt use reduces the risk for death and serious injury by approximately half.

Education and not incarceration may help in saving more kids lives.

http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/child_passenger_safety/cps-factsheet.html

 

[CHERIE.T]

So what common sense action or law will work to make sure babies and children are NOT left in cars?

 

[CHERIE.T]

I like the auto sensor idea but someone will unhook it so it doesn't go off. :tantrum:

 

[krkrjx]

If a baby is left in a hot car that's child abuse in my opinion. Your proposed law is about looking before you lock your car and if you don't look it's a felony. Is there a 15 minute time limit like was posted above? That would make sense. Is there an age limit? A blanket felony charge is a bit troublesome to me.

It's sad but people get away with murder every day in this country. But we need to be careful in how we change things in an attempt to make things better. JMO.

It does have an age limit which may vary from state to state. I believe what is being proposed only deals with children of an age where they are in a car seat.

And it is not a felony to not look such as if a cop sees you exit your vehicle and not look you will be arrested on the spot. The law is designed to save lives rather than put people in prison. If education alone would work I am all for that but education only works if people are open to learning. I remember when child car seats were optional rather than the law. A lot of people didn't bother to buy one.

 

[RANCH]

Automatic jail time will only be a deterrent for those who intentionally leave their kids in the car. Most cases are unintentional neglect.

I think it's time for a modification of car seat standards. Buckles that emit a radio frequency when engaged and key fobs that alarm when more than 40 ft away. Tickets for misuse, like attaching fob to seat.

Intentionally skirting the system resulting in death would automatically be prosecuted as manslaughter, much like being at fault in a fatal vehicle collision.

On the surface I like your idea about RF devices that will help to prevent hot car child deaths. But what happens if the technology fails? Will it be up to the defendant to prove that it was a failure of the device and not his own negligence?

Will the device manufacturer provide expert witness's to prove that their money making device was working just fine and the defendant is guilty?

Scary thoughts. JMO.

 

[Oblio]

I like the auto sensor idea but someone will unhook it so it doesn't go off. :tantrum:

Ticket-able offense. Permit police to ask for fob during routine traffic stops. Must be on the body of driver or parent or keys in use. Hefty fine if on diaper bag, child restraint, or back seat.

 

[gngr~snap]

If a baby is left in a hot car that's child abuse in my opinion. Your proposed law is about looking before you lock your car and if you don't look it's a felony. Is there a 15 minute time limit like was posted above? That would make sense. Is there an age limit? A blanket felony charge is a bit troublesome to me.

It's sad but people get away with murder every day in this country. But we need to be careful in how we change things in an attempt to make things better. JMO.

The news also said in Georgia it's illegal to leave your child into a running car.

I dont know that I should, but I could take it one further as far as leaving kids in cars that are running. Do people not realize how dangerous THAT is? Not even the kidnapping, without enough airflow isn't CO2 a serious threat? Maybe not so much anymore?

http://www.people.com/people/mobile/article/0,,20828691,00.html

At any rate they said in Ga if you are caught leaving baby in a running car you will be charged with reckless abandon.
There is also deprivation of a minor...
http://m.chronicle.augusta.com/news/metro/2011-06-07/leaving-kids-car-criminal

so I guess we do have laws,...

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[CHERIE.T]

Ticket-able offense. Permit police to ask for fob during routine traffic stops. Must be on the body of driver or parent or keys in use. Hefty fine if on diaper bag, child restraint, or back seat.

Guess that idea won't work either.

 

[Oblio]

On the surface I like your idea about RF devices that will help to prevent hot car child deaths. But what happens if the technology fails? Will it be up to the defendant to prove that it was a failure of the device and not his own negligence?

Will the device manufacturer provide expert witness's to prove that their money making device was working just fine and the defendant is guilty?

Scary thoughts. JMO.

Good points. Maybe confirmation lights? My dog has a radio collar, it blinks when batteries are low. A chirp like a smoke alarm would be good, too.

 

[human]

There is a fine for no seat belt where I live.

I know that makes people put their seat belts on.

Is that bad? People need consequences. That is just the way it is.

If people know there is a consequence for something, they are a lot more careful.

A look before you leave law would only matter if you left your child in the car. Then the law would be applied,

Why should school bus drivers be held to a higher standard than anyone else?

 

[gngr~snap]

I'm curious, in Georgia do they specify the upper age of what is considered a child, under the law? Like, is a 12 year old considered a child? How about a 10 year old? An 8 year old? What if there is an older child or teen in the car, along with younger kids? How about other vulnerable people, like the elderly? Mentally and physically disabled?

It's hard for me, knowing the onerous bill to law process in my state, to imagine how such a law might be written, and agreed upon? I'm in one of the 30 states that do not have a law.

All I can find is that there isn't a law on the books. It looks like it's case by case (winging it)

I do think it's illegal to leave an 8 yo home alone.-can't find a law. I am not sure. We were latch key kids at 6!

"Children 8 years old or younger should never be left alone at home even for a short time, and a parent’s discretion should be used for older children, according to guidelines from Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services. No child, no matter the age or self-dependence, should ever be unattended in a car, even if the air conditioner is running."

http://m.chronicle.augusta.com/news...hild-services-suggests-assessing-age-maturity

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[RANCH]

It does have an age limit which may vary from state to state. I believe what is being proposed only deals with children of an age where they are in a car seat.

And it is not a felony to not look such as if a cop sees you exit your vehicle and not look you will be arrested on the spot. The law is designed to save lives rather than put people in prison. If education alone would work I am all for that but education only works if people are open to learning. I remember when child car seats were optional rather than the law. A lot of people didn't bother to buy one.

I think that if the proposed law had some limitations so that it wasn't applicable for simply not looking before you lock it may have merit. Maybe a misdemeanor charge for not looking and leaving your child could be crafted that would fit well with some of the legitimate cases where a parent truly forgot their kid was in the car but was not harmed.

JMO.

 

[katydid23]

But would this fine, 'for not looking' just be for people with a car seat in the car? My kids are grown. Empty nest here. I don't have to look in the back seat before locking, right?

 

[gngr~snap]

But would this fine, 'for not looking' just be for people with a car seat in the car? My kids are grown. Empty nest here. I don't have to look in the back seat before locking, right?

I wouldn't think the "law" would apply until the child was found.

If your child dies inside the car, you didn't look before you locked and can expect jail time.

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[krkrjx]

If it is already the case in every state that any child under a certain age left unattended in a locked vehicle is a criminal offense that can be prosecuted, I am fine with no additional laws. But that has to include the
"I forgot" claims, because there are precautions people can take to prevent that. Looking before you lock is one such precaution. I would think parents would want to do anything they can to keep their baby safe and I cannot figure out why anyone would object to having to look before they lock.

I understand they lost children and am not trying to be unsympathetic here but I believe both Ms. Balfour and Ella's mom should have been prosecuted. Sames goes for Chase's dad, as well as any others who claim they forgot they had the child with them...because they were too preoccupied with other stuff to LOOK!

ETA: Sorry, Chase's dad was prosecuted, but acquitted of all charges. He's one reason why Russia stopped allowing Americans to adopt Russian children. I don't agree with that but I do agree he should not have gotten off with no consequences.