What is the right thing to do? Who do you call?

[agnes!]

In my area we can (and I have) call 911. At least when I called, they did take it seriously. But it involved two SMALL children buckeld in the front seat of a mini-van that had it's side door open. I'm sure there was an explanation and the driver was doing his best. But it was completely unsafe. (and yes, I have a wackly van that did go through a period of the door not remaining closed...I would have had it towed and repaired before driving it with my children even in car seats.)

If I can stop a tragedy, I will. In that case, I had to follow the car--911 was on the phone. I tracked it long enough until the cops found me, and then i directed 911 to the correct mini-van and they passed me and went after the mini van. They were headed towards the interstate and there was nowhere else to go but on it when they were pulled over. So I am glad I did intervene.

To me it isn't so much as ratting the person out as it is in getting the kids into safe transportation.

Not sure I would have called in your scenario. But if I sense imminent danger, I consider it reckless to remain silent.

Oh my word...the van was being driven with the SLIDING-DOOR OPEN?!?

Pardon me while I faint...
agnes!

 

[lillygator]

you are talking teens in the back of a truck basically?
why would you have called the cops??

 

[Kathi OD]

We used to pile in a car, station wagon, whatever, as many of us as could fit with no seatbelts at all. Don't know how any of us lived to see another day with all the concerns of today.

so true! and how many of us road in "car seats" that hung over the back of the front seat of the car between mom & dad? Or how about the "car beds?" You know, they looked like the body of a baby carriage and just laid on the back seat of the car.

truly amazing that so many of us made it to adulthood.

 

[DisneyLover83]

you are talking teens in the back of a truck basically?
why would you have called the cops??

No, it was 2 children. No older than 10. I think it bugged me because there really was no where to go from this gas station except back onto the interstate.


I appreciate everyones opinions, I did not call the police or do anything but it was on my mind when we got home and wanted to know what others thought.

 

[Mermaid02]

I wouldn't have done anything. It wasn't the safest choice, but it wasn't deserving of calling the police on them either.

We laid all over each other in the back of the station wagon like a litter of puppies.... LOL. Of course I would never do that now but I don't think this situation was worthy of a call to the police.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Oh my word...the van was being driven with the SLIDING-DOOR OPEN?!?

Pardon me while I faint...
agnes!

Yep--my jaw dropped when I saw it. And to boot--the front seat was reclined. It just wasn't even close to safe.

I'd been inclined to "mind my own business" if the slider was closed--but it wasn't.



As for crazy things we did as kids and survived....

My mom put my brother's crib mattress in the back seat on a trip to Florida so we'd be comfy. For any sudden stops or collisions--we had first class tickets through the windshield. We did survive the trip without incident though. Can't imagine though why my mom considered that a "good" idea though. It was comfy for the first 20 minutes of the trip.

 

[sunnyday123]

I wouldn't have done anything. It wasn't the safest choice, but it wasn't deserving of calling the police on them either.

And they weren't driving. Maybe they folded it down so the kids could spread out and eat something? Maybe they pulled over for someone to nap before continuing to drive, etc. There are many reasons they could have been sitting in the parking lot. For all you know, they could live in the car.

 

[dis-happy]

NC has changed its laws in the past year or two. It used to be okay for a parent sitting in the back seat to unbuckle a baby in order attend to the baby's personal needs (I always assumed this meant nursing or changing a diaper while traveling). And wearing a seatbelt in the back seat was considered optional. I believe there was also an loophole for when there were more people than seatbelts. While they have cracked down on this with new laws, it's slightly possible the parents were unaware.

 

[acejka]

We used to pile in a car, station wagon, whatever, as many of us as could fit with no seatbelts at all. Don't know how any of us lived to see another day with all the concerns of today.

I can't remember many trips that didn't involve a few of us piled in the back of an explorer, we never questioned it either...

 

[aprilgail2]

I don't think that it is right, but I also would recognize that it was none of my business...

 

[emma'smom]

I've got enough to worry about with my own business.....I wouldn't bother worrying about something like that.

 

[wdwfan16]

Since the car was parked and you never saw it move they did nothing wrong.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Yeah me too. We got stopped one time b/c they didn't think we had enough room but we did. We have a station wagon that has a third row but it faces the rear and it has seat belts and everything. I would never put the kids in a car that didn't have enough for everyone. He let us go but he was not happy. I don;pt know why he wasn't we did nothing wrong.

Possibly because someone called you in for no reason and he was irritated at them.

 

[paintnolish]

I have a question, and I honestly mean no snark...would you think about calling the police if you saw an adult driving without a seatbelt? Is it because they are kids and not responsible for their own decisions?
In answer to your OP, I would not call the police. They were parked. If we were speeding down the highway, and I saw them bouncing around the back- maybe. It would be a tough one.

 

[luvmy3]

Since the car was parked and you never saw it move they did nothing wrong.

I know when we go on a trip with a group and we stop to get gas, or a quick bite, the kids are usually in the different cars playing with eachother.
I wouldn't call not knowing the situation and would feel like a horse's rear if I called the police to tell them that I saw 5 kids in a Ford Explorer parked at a gas station. (Also OP, you say there wasn't a thrid seat, but is ity possible it was just folded down under the floor (is that how Explorers work?). Anyway its not something I would call the police about.

 

[Allison]

Calling the HP about a parked vehicle that you never saw move would not be the right thing to do.

 

[MizTink]

my granddaughter (preemie) was taken in the car by her other grandma when she was 2 weeks old. i FREAKED when i went to pick her up and no one was home. i had the carseat with me, so i knew the idiot grandma didn't have it. she had the baby laying on the front seat of the car like a sack of potatoes. OMG i can't tell you how FURIOUS i was (and DS & his GF). that woman leaves a lot to be desired, so i'm not really surprised......
needless to say she doesn't have the baby alone often. we just can't trust her (lack of) judgment. if it were up to me, she wouldn't have the baby EVER.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have a question, and I honestly mean no snark...would you think about calling the police if you saw an adult driving without a seatbelt? Is it because they are kids and not responsible for their own decisions?
In answer to your OP, I would not call the police. They were parked. If we were speeding down the highway, and I saw them bouncing around the back- maybe. It would be a tough one.

I'll answer.


I don't choose to call 911 out of being a tattle tale. I call 911 when I see an accident, notice a dangerous act (i.e. the time that a car was spinning out and then proceeded driving the WRONG way)--4 wheelers horsing around along the interstate...or I see a situation where a child is in danger as I did for the minivan.

To me--it's the WWYD if you saw an act that could result in serious harm.

For adults--in some states, it is not an offense to not wear a seatbelt. The adult can make the choice--but it is not illegal. In other states it is only a secondary offense. The driver cannot be pulled over for not wearing a seat belt even if it is illegal. This was the case in Florida up until last year. It is now a primary offense. But even then--the adult can still make that choice and accept the consequences. Their lack of a seatbelt does not endanger those around them.

However--an adult failing to restrain a child does endanger that child. The child cannot remedy the situation themselves or stop the adult from driving unitl they are safely restrained. It's different.

A child in a clearly precarious situation that is not only illegal--but dangerous, does not compare to the choices an adult can make for themselves.

The OP's observation do not fit the bill on that--especially since the driver was parked. And others have brought up very valid points about how the kids may have just been visiting while perhaps waiting for another vehicle.

 

[luvmy3]

I just thought of something that happened to us that kind of relates to this thread. Our car broke down on the a state parkway in the middle of nowhere, so no cell service, and luckily a State Trooper had driven by. He let us all pack in his car (along with all our stuff because we were going on a trip ) and drove us to a diner off the next exit. So people there would have seen us all piling out of the car, dh was in front but the rest of us were in the back, ds on my lap with the belt around both of us. Definitely not legal since he still needs a seat wonder who they could have called?

 

[npmommie]

there was just a terrible accident here,same kind of car, 7 or 8 people in it, several children,
very tragic sad story.
just happened friday, if you google fatal crash i 84 sturbridge ma