Yes. This can happen to anyone. The problem and paradox is that it has occurred often enough that everyone should know that it can happen to them, and take steps to make sure it doesn’t. And this man is a social worker!?!?! He knows what can happen. I don’t know what LE’s reasoning was in arresting him, beyond the obvious, but to me, his job makes him more culpable.
When I have papers I need to take with me, from home, I realize that I may forget to take them. So I hide my car keys under them. It hasn’t failed once. I like the idea of tying a cord from the car seat to the driver. I’ve heard that you can set a ‘child in car’ alarm on Waze, to go off at destination. For that matter, you could set daycare as your destination, in any mapping app that talks to you—even if you know the way. My favorite idea is—take your left shoe off and toss it on the back seat. It’s an extravagant idea, but free, low-tech and certain to work—and when I compare the inconvenience to the chance of a lifetime of agony, there’s no comparison.