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

[DisneyLover83]

Dh and I were at a gas station off of the interstate today and as he was pumping gas I was sitting in the car. There was a ford explorer parked in front of the gas station with 2 adults in the front seat and one child in the rear seat. 4 kids come out of the gas station and two open the back door and hop into the trunk area, they appeared between 8 and 10 years old. One of the other kids closes the door behind them and then gets into the rear seat with the other child. So there is a total of 7 people (5 children and 2 adults) in a Ford Explorer Dh was done getting gas and I said for him to look and he was like We pulled onto the highway and the Explorer was still sitting in the parking lot... Dh thought it would do no good to call HP or anything becuase we never saw the car move with the children in the back. I can't help but wonder about the safety of those children Anyway, should I have called the highway patrol even though we only saw the car parked?

 

[MinnieMe87]

Dh and I were at a gas station off of the interstate today and as he was pumping gas I was sitting in the car. There was a ford explorer parked in front of the gas station with 2 adults in the front seat and one child in the rear seat. 4 kids come out of the gas station and two open the back door and hop into the trunk area, they appeared between 8 and 10 years old. One of the other kids closes the door behind them and then gets into the rear seat with the other child. So there is a total of 7 people (5 children and 2 adults) in a Ford Explorer Dh was done getting gas and I said for him to look and he was like We pulled onto the highway and the Explorer was still sitting in the parking lot... Dh thought it would do no good to call HP or anything becuase we never saw the car move with the children in the back. I can't help but wonder about the safety of those children Anyway, should I have called the highway patrol even though we only saw the car parked?

Could they have possibly had the third row seating folded down for the kids to get out and get in without having to climb? My friend has an explorer with third row seating and we easily (and safely) fit 8 adults in it. Three were in the way back, three in the middle, and two up front. I probably wouldn't have called anyone for that very reason. You don't know for sure if they didn't have adequate seating, I would have been embarrassed if I called and the people did actually have proper room.

 

[pilotwife_02]

Could they have possibly had the third row seating folded down for the kids to get out and get in without having to climb? My friend has an explorer with third row seating and we easily (and safely) fit 8 adults in it. Three were in the way back, three in the middle, and two up front. I probably wouldn't have called anyone for that very reason. You don't know for sure if they didn't have adequate seating, I would have been embarrassed if I called and the people did actually have proper room.

I wouldn't have been embarrassed, it's not like they would have known it was me calling. In my opinion, better safe than sorry. Plus I would have been really upset if I DIDN'T call and something happened to those poor kids because they weren't properly retrained/had their own seat belts.

I don't know who you could have called but that really bothers me when people don't take the safety of their children serious. Our neighbors across the street are notorious for that. They have 5 kids and have a sedan (and a minvan so I don't know why they don't use that all the time) and I have seen them on more than one occasion putting all 5 children in the back seat, one being a toddler who I am positive is not in a car seat since I see him sitting on another's lap.

The other day I saw someone turning around in my driveway and there was a toddler (I would say under 2) sitting on the driver's lap It was early in the morning and I think the mom was dropping another child off at the school bus stop (it right by our house), but still that is so unsafe and I feel it's lazy parenting.

 

[cheermom1]

Could they have possibly had the third row seating folded down for the kids to get out and get in without having to climb? My friend has an explorer with third row seating and we easily (and safely) fit 8 adults in it. Three were in the way back, three in the middle, and two up front. I probably wouldn't have called anyone for that very reason. You don't know for sure if they didn't have adequate seating, I would have been embarrassed if I called and the people did actually have proper room.

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.

 

[DisneyLover83]

Could they have possibly had the third row seating folded down for the kids to get out and get in without having to climb? My friend has an explorer with third row seating and we easily (and safely) fit 8 adults in it. Three were in the way back, three in the middle, and two up front. I probably wouldn't have called anyone for that very reason. You don't know for sure if they didn't have adequate seating, I would have been embarrassed if I called and the people did actually have proper room.

There was no third row, they were sitting on the flat trunk space. Unfortunately I had a very close up view to the car... We have been home for a while and I just can't stop thinking about those kids.

 

[MinnieMe87]

There was no third row, they were sitting on the flat trunk space. Unfortunately I had a very close up view to the car... We have been home for a while and I just can't stop thinking about those kids.

That stinks! I was hoping that it was a possibility they had them folded down flat like my friend's third row seats do.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

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

 

[Magic Mom]

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

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

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.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

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

Ditto.

 

[sparklynails23]

I wouldn't sweat it. They probably lived around the corner.

When I was younger, we all would pile in the back of a pick-up truck, and every year the Firemen would give us a ride on the outside of the firetruck for Christmas. Santa would ride, too.

 

[MIGrandma]

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

I completely agree with you. I can't imagine calling the police for that.

 

[disney1990]

We have a number in Maryland to report things that we see on the road. I have called about instances like this in the past and will continue to do so. Somebody has to speak out for the children.

 

[englishteacha]

Perhaps the kids who hopped in the back were from a different vehicle and were visiting. I know when there are several of us going somewhere in different cars, we might all hop in one at a rest stop (especially if it's raining or cold) to chat or make plans for our next stop.

 

[Magic Mom]

We have a number in Maryland to report things that we see on the road. I have called about instances like this in the past and will continue to do so. Somebody has to speak out for the children.

Speeding could be dangerous too. Even just a few miles over the limit. Do you call the police about that too?

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

The only thing that really bothers me about this is that I bet one of the kids was a friend. Surely no family goes out to buy a car that doesn't fit the entire family. It's one thing for them to be weird with their own kids, but if I was sending my kid to play with his friend and found out they weren't willing to provide a seat in a car for my kid then I'd be a little steamed.

The worst I have ever seen was driving down I-4 behind a pick-up truck and saw something bobbing around in the bed of the truck. At first I was like "aww, poor puppy" until I saw two things bob up again and then I realized it was two children (6-8 I'd average) sitting in the bed of the truck.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Speeding could be dangerous too. Even just a few miles over the limit. Do you call the police about that too?

No--but reckless driving, yes.

And if the child was driving...yes in all instances.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

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.

 

[Magic Mom]

No--but reckless driving, yes.

And if the child was driving...yes in all instances.

You mean I shouldn't let them drive??? Darn, now I have to figure out how to drive and read at the same time.

 

[portocall]

Perhaps the kids who hopped in the back were from a different vehicle and were visiting. I know when there are several of us going somewhere in different cars, we might all hop in one at a rest stop (especially if it's raining or cold) to chat or make plans for our next stop.

This is what I was thinking as we tend to do this at rest stops and gas stations when on a long car ride. The adults allow the children a chance to jump in another car to visit with the cousins, while the adults take care of business (resting, pumping, snack run, restroom). Once it is time to leave, the kids pile back into the cars they are going to be riding in and we are safely back on the road. If someone has ever called the police on us reporting two adults and 9 children in the back of an Explorer would have the police find two adults and two children in said Explorer once it is on the road.