Is it illegal to leave your child in the car for 2 mins whilst you pop into a shop?

Question

My 4 year old had a bad cold, was feeling ill and refused to come into the shop and so I thought if she was strapped into her car seat and I locked the car, then I would hear the alarm if anything happened. After a minute in the shop I went into the doorway and she was fine and so went back in for a minute when a very angry lady dragged me outside and said it was illegal to do what I had just done. I was very upset as I am a good mother and was made to feel I had "abandoned" my child when I had not.

Answer 1

I don't know if it's illegal, but I personally don't do it because there are too many crazy people in the world. It is definitely more of a pain to bring them in sometimes, but I feel like it's a small inconvenience compared to the possible alternatives. Everyone has their own feelings on the subject of course, and that lady had no right to judge you the way she did. I suppose it also depends on where you live and how trusting you are of the human race.

Answer 2

Yes, it is illegal to leave a child in a car "even for a minute". Children can not be left in cars- regardless of the reason- for any length of time, without an adult also in the car. I would have to say that I would have called the police if I saw a child left in a vehicle alone. So, the parent would have been angry with me- oh well, as a teacher, I have a duty to report such situations or face criminal charges myself. We have signs posted at our preschool that warn parents of leaving their child in a car- we will call the police. I had to do this one day while at the park... I came back to get in my car, and the car next to me contained an infant sleeping in their carseat. I yelled around to the people nearest me, and no one claimed the car, so I called the police. Luckily they were near and arrived in two minutes. I waited until they arrived, and while one officer went to ask around, the other broke into the car. They found the parents about a football-field length away, over a hill- they just left the baby because it was sleeping and they didn't want to disturb it by removing it from the car. Meanwhile, in the sun, the baby was sweating and the car's internal temperature rose well above 90 degrees- and it was a relatively cool day (about 75). It's not worth the risk to leave them alone, even for a short time. Another risk is that someone could break into your car, not realizing that a child is in it, and drive away. How scary! Situations like these are why laws have been passed to make leaving your child unattended in a car an illegal act. If she refuses next time, either take her anyway, or forget the store trip until later.

Answer 3

Well I guess the hostility is coming from the increase in both kidnappings as well as heat stroke cases. Also could she reach the shifter? Just last week a lady parked down the road from our house and just ran inside leaving an infant and a 3 yr old. The 3 yr old put the car in neutral and the car rolled down the road and crashed into a tree in our yard. Thankfully, the wheel was turned or they would of hit the busy highway. Those things are not likely and probably will never happen to you....but what if? And i am sorry you were made to feel like a bad mother, no one should do that regardless! As far as the legalities go, it will vary state to state. Good Luck to you :)

Answer 4

This kinda happened to me. I dont know if you call it illegal, but I wound up with a $560 ticket in the state of Texas. I left my child strapped in her car seat while running in a store (she had just dozed off, I mean just). By the time I came out of the store a city cop was approaching me. So I guess anything (like a phuken cop) could happen even in just a short 2 minutes.

Answer 5

Illegal, i don't know, but i have to agree with the lady at the store...not a very good idea, even if the doors are locked. It is your duty as a parent to ensure your child's safety and that cannot be done while you are in a store and your child is in the car. If your child was that sick, why go shopping at all? If it was a necessity, you are the parent and tell your child she HAS to go with you, no questions asked.

Answer 6

It's illegal to leave a child in a car without adult supervision. I have seen parents do this and CYS has gotten involved because a concerned citizen has reported this. In the eyes of the law this is considered neglect. But as a parent the same as you i can understand your thinking "it's only for a minute" but alot can happen in a minute that woman could have just as easly could have called cys or the cops then you would have had to go through the courts.

Answer 7

I don't know that it is illegal. Perhaps if you left the engine running and the child in there then yes. Maybe it could be classed as cruel if you went off and did your weekly shop, leaving her in there. But you didn't do either of these.

I think she was just being a busybody and you should just ignore her. You were doing what was the best for your child and therefore you should stop worrying.

On the subject of leaving kids in cars, I went to Ikea Wembley once in the middle of summer and was waiting for hubby to get the car to load up, as you do, and I saw a child about 18 mths old asleep, dressed in just a nappy in a car with all the windows shut. I alerted a member of staff and they called out the reg over the tannoy. It was 3/4 of an hour before the woman appeared and even then she had a go at me and the staff member for interrupting her shopping!

Answer 8

Yes, it is illegal. My niece was watching her niece and left her in the car when she went into the video store to drop off movies. The car was locked. She had to go in, because the movies were late and she had to pay the late fees. The front of the store was all glass and the counter was right in front, so she had her eye on the car at all times. The police station was right across the street, so when someone immediately called the police, they were right there. My niece had to go to court, pay fines, go to parenting classes (even though she herself was not a parent) and was on probation for 6 months.

The local news talked about this subject and they reported that although it's illegal to leave your child in the car unattended, the police are not looking to prosecute parents who run into the gas station to pay for gas. Although I wouldn't take the chance. I don't go to a gas station unless I can pay with my debit or credit card at the pump. I won't even get a carry-out unless they have curbside service. I just wish there were move drive thru convenience/grocery stores too.

You sound like you are a good mom, so don't let one person bring you down. I would just avoid getting into those situations in the future.

Answer 9

If Madeleine were stumbled on secure and properly the subsequent day then i've got faith the McCanns could have been charged by way of the Portugese police. And rightly so. in spite of the indisputable fact that, i think of the police are the two waiting to cost them with a greater extreme crime or probable will value them with forget at a later point. in the event that they have been to cost the McCanns with forget perfect now, there may well be sure infuential human beings and different wellmeaning human beings shouting that the McCanns had suffered adequate because of the loss of their daughter and that i think of public opinion might turn quite of their favour. Be elementary, can any decide there tell me something greater devastating than the lack of ability of YOUR new child? Social amenities have curiously visited the kinfolk, and have been happy that the twins have been in no threat. properly, enable's settle for it, they are decrease than the spotlight perfect now, it may well be thoroughly stupid to leave the twins on my own. merely because it replaced into thoroughly stupid to leave all 3 infants on my own that evening.

Answer 10

it is illegal. but more than that its always better to be safe than sorry. so many things can go wrong when you least expect it. there was a woman in canada who left her sleeping 6 year old son and her 3 year old in the car for "a few mins" while she went into the store and the little girl got her neck stuck in the window while playing with it. someone saw and put her in the front seat and went to get help; meanwhile the mom comes back, thinks the child is asleep too and drives off. the little girl died. We always think things like that can never happen to us but like i said, that mom sure wishes she had taken her kids with her. tragedies happen in a matter of seconds. I am sure your a good mother, and i wouldnt sweat about that incident, but I'd just avoid doing that in the future.

Answer 11

I'm sure that you are a good mother, and it wasn't your intention to endanger your child, but the lady was right. It is illegal, and it is dangerous. It only takes a second for her to be kidnapped, run out and be hit by a car, carjacked, anything. This has happened before. It's even illegal to lave an animal unattended in a car in some states. Next time, just scoop her up and run in.