She left baby in car at post office!

[DancingBear]

To the extent it matters, folks have assumed the car was unlocked because the OP said the woman did not unlock the door. Most cars now have buttons on the keyfobs which unlock the door, so that car at the post office certainly could have been locked.

 

[disneymom3]

Not only is it illegal to leave a child unattended in a car, it is also illegal (at least in Minnesota) to leave a running car unattended.

I would have called the police in a heartbeat. And after the comment to "mind your own business," I would have reminded the mother that she was breaking the law.

Is it? I thought that was only in Mpls that you couldn't leave a car running because the police were sick of cars being stolen in the winter. Didn't know about the law re kids in the car. Not that I do it anyway, just suprised there is an actual law on the books.

As for the situation the OP was in, what really kils me is that just a year or so ago, some woman's car was stolen with her baby in it while she was in a liquor store. (Of all places. Wouldn't you just feel even worse.) The car had been left running and seemingly when the theif reaized there was a baby in the back, they abandoned the car. This was in St Cloud and was all over the news here. Apparantly the woman you saw doesn't watch the news or listen to the radio.

I was just saying to a friend of mine that I really wished leaving your kids in the car was not bad parenting. I had a meeting I really needed to go to but had to miss cause I didn't have a sitter and DH was not home. I would have loved for it to be okay for me to leave the kids in the car for half an hour. I missed my meeting.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

To the extent it matters, folks have assumed the car was unlocked because the OP said the woman did not unlock the door. Most cars now have buttons on the keyfobs which unlock the door, so that car at the post office certainly could have been locked.

I thought about that as well--but depending on how the OP observed...if there were no buttons--or if the woman just reached and lifted the handle without pressing any buttons...then that point would be moot.

I am curious though if that occurred. OP?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I had a meeting I really needed to go to but had to miss cause I didn't have a sitter and DH was not home. I would have loved for it to be okay for me to leave the kids in the car for half an hour. I missed my meeting.

If you wouldn't leave them home alone--why would you leave them unattended in a car alone for a meeting?

 

[Becky2005]

I don't know what the appropriate age is. ANyone have any input on that.

I think it's 12 in our state but not 100% sure.

 

[goofy's friends]

Although I have never left my kids unattended in a running car or a hot car, I have left them locked in the car when I've run into a store or the post office, briefly. They honestly prefer it, and I'm sure that they're statistically more likely to be run down in the parking lot than carjacked. We live in a very rural and low crime area. Flame away. The few stories about wackos taking kids from cars has blown this whole issue way out of proportion.

OP- Do you live in a rural, urban, or suburban part of Minnesota?

Historically, I have disagreed with you, momof2, but on this I agree. My oldest is 9 and very responsible. I have BRIEFLY run in somewhere instead of dragging all 3 kids in for something that will take 2 sec. (like paying the gas attendant). They also prefer it, groaning if I say they have to come in and it will only take a sec. I never like doing this and rush like crazy, but have done it.

Now, that said, I NEVER did it when they were babies. No way.

 

[disneymom3]

If you wouldn't leave them home alone--why would you leave them unattended in a car alone for a meeting?

Umm, I think you missed the point. I wouldn't leave them in the car. And didn't. As for the difference between home and car, neither was acceptable, but the car would have been half an hour and at home would have been closet to two due to the distance.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Umm, I think you missed the point. I wouldn't leave them in the car. And didn't. As for the difference between home and car, neither was acceptable, but the car would have been half an hour and at home would have been closet to two due to the distance.

So did I misintepret a joke? B/c it sounded like you hoped the law was different so you wouldn't have missed the meeting.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

The law in my state (California):

UNATTENDED CHILDREN IN MOTOR VEHICLES

It is illegal to leave a child six years of age or younger unattended in a motor vehicle when:

There are conditions that present a significant risk to the child’s health or safety. Example: Leaving a child in a closed car on a very hot day.

The vehicle’s engine is running, the keys are in the ignition, or both. Children can start or move the car causing injuries and/or deaths to themselves or others.

Exception: The child may be left under the supervision of a person 12 years of age or older.

The court may fine violators and require the person to attend a community education program.

Also, the penalties for leaving an unattended child in a vehicle are more severe if the child is injured, requires emergency medical services, or dies.

 

[summerrluvv]

I would've wrote down the tag number and called the police and like someone else said, blocked her in. I can't believe the stupidity of some people.

 

[disneymom3]

So did I misintepret a joke? B/c it sounded like you hoped the law was different so you wouldn't have missed the meeting.

No. Let's try this again. I reread my first post and am reposting it to make it more clear.

Is it? I thought that was only in Mpls that you couldn't leave a car running because the police were sick of cars being stolen in the winter. Didn't know about the law re kids in the car. Not that I do it anyway, just suprised there is an actual law on the books.

As for the situation the OP was in, what really kils me is that just a year or so ago, some woman's car was stolen with her baby in it while she was in a liquor store. (Of all places. Wouldn't you just feel even worse.) The car had been left running and seemingly when the theif reaized there was a baby in the back, they abandoned the car. This was in St Cloud and was all over the news here. Apparantly the woman you saw doesn't watch the news or listen to the radio.

I was just saying to a friend of mine that I really wished leaving your kids in the car was not bad parenting. I had a meeting I really needed to go to but had to miss cause I didn't have a sitter and DH was not home. I would have loved for it to be okay for me to leave the kids in the car for half an hour. I missed my meeting.

You'll note that though I said I was not aware that was the law, I would not do it anyway. I was simply curious if there was an actual law here in MN about it.

I then said I wished it wasn't bad parenting. To ME, leaving my kids in the car for half an hour would have been bad parenting. I have no idea how that could be interpretted as that I wished the law were different so that I could have done it.

 

[DancingBear]

Eleven states currently have laws that prohibit children from being left unattended in vehicles, including: Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington. In addition, New York has proposed similar legislation.

http://www.safetypolicy.org/pm/incars.htm

 

[Tigger&Belle]

So did I misintepret a joke? B/c it sounded like you hoped the law was different so you wouldn't have missed the meeting.

I'm assuming she meant that she wishes that things were different and that kids could be left in a car (ie, a "different" world--safe from fire, no kidnapping danger, etc).

 

[Mrs.Toad]

To the extent it matters, folks have assumed the car was unlocked because the OP said the woman did not unlock the door. Most cars now have buttons on the keyfobs which unlock the door, so that car at the post office certainly could have been locked.

When my engine is running, the car doors won't lock via the keyfob or the keyhole in the driver's door. Even the interior button won't work until the door is shut. It's to help prevent locking the keys in the car. I realize not all cars work the way mine does, but since that's what I'm used to, I can't help but assume engine running + no adult inside = unlocked doors.

 

[DancingBear]

When my engine is running, the car doors won't lock via the keyfob or the keyhole in the driver's door. Even the interior button won't work until the door is shut. It's to help prevent locking the keys in the car. I realize not all cars work the way mine does, but since that's what I'm used to, I can't help but assume engine running + no adult inside = unlocked doors.

This is not true of either of my vehicles. And it makes no sense to the extent that if you have the key fob (or another key) to lock it, then you have the key fob (or other key) to unlock it.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm assuming she meant that she wishes that things were different and that kids could be left in a car (ie, a "different" world--safe from fire, no kidnapping danger, etc).

ooooohhhhhh--even with her second explanation it went over my head. This explanation makes sense.

 

[jodifla]

I guess we need to define "unattended." I just got cash at my bank earlier today. I left DS, 4, in the car. I could see him the whole time, and I was parked literally in front of the cash machine. The windows were down, and it's a pleasant day (in Michigan now, not Florida.)

There was no danger of heat exposure, and no danger of carjacking...I had the keys.

DS also routinely falls asleep in the car after shopping trips, so I leave him in there while I unload the car, then get him last (assuming the weather is mild.) Or, I leave him sleep in the car at home, while I pull up a chair beside the car and wait for him to wake up.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

And it makes no sense to the extent that if you have the key fob (or another key) to lock it, then you have the key fob (or other key) to unlock it.

You know, I always think that, too! Maybe there's another reason they do it.

 

[momof2inPA]

I'd like to see a story saying a kid died in a car because the parents just ran in for a second. All of these (very sad) stories I've seen have been someone forgetting, or thinking the other parent or sibling had the baby, etc.

Right. Or someone was playing hide and seek, or the parent was a gambling addict or a drunk or drug addict. None of those apply to me.

The statistical probability of an engine catching fire while someone is in the store for a minute within sight of the car is very slim. If the car's off, it's next to nothing. Plus, if I can see smoke from coming under the hood, I'll reach them quicker by running 15 feet than if I were strapped into the car.

If someone were to run into my van, the kids would have a much better chance of not getting hurt than if they ran into the kids walking into the store.

 

[momof2inPA]

Actually it is easy to lose track of time and within 5-10 minutes the inside of a car will reach an intolerable temperature very quickly.

In all those incidents while the child was found dead later...they were killed towards the very beginning of the ordeal by the temperatures.

So when someone runs in for 5 minutes--that could be enough for an infant to require emergency medical treatment. Especially since an infant cannot regulate their body temperature very well yet.

In reality--there really is no "just a second".

And really--is it fair to the infant or young child who cannot help themselves..to be exposed to extreme temperatures in an oven for any length of time?

http://www.latimes.com/classified/a...30915.story?coll=la-class-highway1-yourwheels



http://pediatrics.about.com/od/safety/a/05_hot_cars.htm

Actually, Lisa, no one's advocating leaving your child in a locked car in 98 degree heat, so these links would not apply. Do you have a story where someone responsible ran in for just a second, like the poster asked?

Does anyone remember an Oprah where someone said that for safety's sake, you should load the kids into the car, strap them in, then return the cart? Another person countered that the car could be stolen with the kids in it (yeah, whatever). I'm with the first person. I put the kids in the car, then take the cart back. I've almost been run down by too many senior citizens in my grocery store's parking lot.