Lawmakers Create Bill for Children Left in Hot Cars

[Zoneboy]

Link

A push for change after a local toddler dies inside a hot car. Police in Livingston county are still trying to figure out why a 17 month old girl was left alone in a vehicle to die. The child was found dead inside her father's pickup truck at the family's Green Oak Township home on Wednesday.

On a warm summer day, it's enough to make your blood run cold. An innocent child left to die inside a hot car. It happened this week in Livingston county. Now there's talk at the capitol that the state should do more to prevent it from happening again.

Rep. Rick Jones, (R) Grand Ledge: "We've heard cases across the nation of people leaving the child in the car and going to the beauty parlor for an hour, going to a bar for a couple of hours, shocking things."

Right now, it's not a crime in Michigan to leave a child alone in a car, unless that child gets hurt. But some lawmakers are hoping to change that. Under a bill co-sponsored by Representative Rick Jones, if a child is found alone in a car, but unharmed, the person responsible could face up to 93 days in jail, and a $500 fine. And if the child is harmed, the punishment would jump to 10 years in jail and $5,000.

Rep. Rick Jones, (R) Grand Ledge: "It would alert people to the fact that if you do this you could serve some serious time, so maybe people would think twice."

The bill is still working it's way through the legislature. But Governor Granholm says if it reaches her desk, she's open to the idea.

Governor Granholm: "Leaving anything in a car, a child, a dog, anybody, a vulnerable adult is very poor judgement."

And in Michigan it may become a crime. The bill has passed the house and now moves to the senate. Meanwhile, Green Oak Township Police are still questioning the toddler's parents and have not yet sent the case to the prosecutor for possible charges.

[PrettyinPink55]

I think it should be a crime everywhere!!!!!!

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by PrettyinPink55

I think it should be a crime everywhere!!!!!!

Amen to that.

[PlayOn]

^^^ that and it should've been done along time ago!

[catlover79]

I agree with all of you. What took so long???

[Ireneparalegal]

Are you kidding me? It is not a crime everywhere? WTF??? Isn't that why CHILD ENDANGERMENT is a crime?


I can't help but remember last week's episode of America's Most Wanted where a mother was killed while she was trying to keep a man from stealing her car. I kept thinking, why was she trying so hard to save her stupid car? Well it seems she was too lazy to take her 3 month old daughter out of the car while she was walking inside a cell phone store. So, that woman ended up dying for something that could have been avoided. Had she had her child in her arms instead of alone in a car, she could have said, "Here, take my damn keys."

[Zoneboy]

It seems like everytime this happens it's called an accident. Spilling your drink on the carpet is an accident, This is neglect pure and simple and why is it that probably 99.99% of these so called accidents happen during the hottest time of the year? We very rarely hear of anyone leaving a child alone in a car during the winter months.

[catlover79]

^ You raise an interesting question, Charles. I never thought of it that way.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

It seems like everytime this happens it's called an accident. Spilling your drink on the carpet is an accident, This is neglect pure and simple and why is it that probably 99.99% of these so called accidents happen during the hottest time of the year? We very rarely hear of anyone leaving a child alone in a car during the winter months.

Because it is cold and these stupid people are too lazy to dress up their kids in warm clothing and they don't want to be bothered with having to lug their children in the cold. Nor do they want to leave the comforts of their warm home. I mean, how bothersome is that?

[InspectorExstead]

i could've sworn i responded to this thread, but i guess not.
anyway, it's taken them far too long to get here. who in their right mind leaves a child, alone for starters, in a car on a hot day? geez. some people just don't deserve to be parents.

[PunkyP0WER]

it'd surprise you how many people don't have common sense or are just too self absorbed, which is the cause of the majority of these "accidents".

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by PunkyP0WER

it'd surprise you how many people don't have common sense or are just too self absorbed, which is the cause of the majority of these "accidents".

Yeah, Like that woman who made sure her damn donuts were gotten out of the car but left her child inside.

[OH Nuts!]

It is mind boggling this has not been specified or legislated as a crime until now. Bravo to Michigan. Other states and cities are you listening? And yes, where are these people's brains???????? To me it is basic common sense to never leave a child in a car alone.

[waichingliu81]

in addition to jail time and a fine, perhaps it would also be good if those kids were taken away from their parents, who do such a thing as this. they don't deserve children whatsoever

[Chocoholic]

This should be a law in all 50 states! There is NO EXCUSE for leaving a child alone in the car!!!! And don't tell me the parents "forgot". You don't forget your baby!!!