<p>Is this really needed? When do “good” samaritans become a nuisance?</p>
<p><a href=“FOX 32 Chicago”>FOX 32 Chicago;
<p>What is next? Being charged for leaving a senior in the car while buying their medicine? An unruly pet? </p>
<p>I agree that these things have gotten out of hand. I know the rationale, but the these Good Samaritans, if so concerned should have just stayed with the child and let the parent know this could be an issue, or written a note instead of calling police. </p>
<p>I’ve written about this a few times–some years ago an egregious abuser of leaving car parked anywhere with kid in a carseat got her car stolen when she did that one day. Made the evening news because the kid was in the car when it happened. I’m sure the thief was horrified to find a baby in the back seat, as he ditched the car, called the police as to the location, within the hour and all ended well. There is that danger of someone opening the car door and stealing the kid, you know. But whether the chances of such consequences merit official action is where the question is. A senior left in the car who is not officially deemed incompetent is a whole other story, as that is legally an independent adult, and unruly pets are also a different situation. A confused senior (like my MIL) left in a car who gets out of it and wanders around the parking lot is a problem, and that can happen. </p>
<p>We are entering the times covered by “The Minority Report” where we get consequences for things BEFORE they happen. </p>
<p>Hot or not, nothing she needed in the store was so important that it justifies leaving a child in a car unattended (and while he was sick). </p>
<p>I don’t believe that it was “only” the heat (or not) that caused problems for the mother. She left her child in the car…alone. And as for slamming the people who called the police as out of control good Samaritans…too bad. It takes guts to call the police. From the second you put the 911 in your phone your work is not done. You aren’t out of it…</p>
<p>According to the humane society, it takes approximately 10 minutes for a closed car to reach 100 degrees on a sunny 75 degree day. </p>
<p>^We waited on the car for parents all the time when we were young.</p>
<p>I guess weather worked differently then.</p>
<p>Apparently. At least you didnt need the key on to roll down the windows</p>
<p>^No, parenting worked differently then. We didn’t have car seats, seldom used seat belts. Slept in flat bottom of station wagon back on long trips. It’s a different world. </p>
<p>Now I’m scared to take even my dog with me on errands. Let’s see, it’ s 72 degrees. Do the stores have shade to park in so I don’t get the cops called on me? If I have to park in sun it needs to be mid-60’s or below and a short errand. I haven’t figured out if someone will mind if I leave dog in a cold car for a few minutes in January. For sure the dog doesn’t care. </p>
<p>This is where judgement comes into play. IF it were truly a dangerous situation, and I could not be right there to help, I’d call the police. But not for this, no I would not. I’d either write a note, leave it on the car and watch till the parent came back, or I’d just watch and let the parent know this is not a good idea when s/he came out. I don’t think it took guts to call the police. Some people are sanctimonious about these things. Had a neighbor in my old neighborhood who loved to call the police on every and anyone at whatever opportunity. Always had a reason, there always was a risk. </p>
<p>So, lack of seatbelts kept the car cooler? I’m so confused.</p>
<p>She left the window open and if she was really only gone for 5 minutes the so-called good samaritans were being sanctimonious busy-bodies, imho.</p>
<p>I would rather the police do the talking. Have you ever tried to tell a stranger that their parenting methods are poor? Have you every told a parent that they made bad choices? I would be interested in watching that scenario. </p>
<p>Life was different when we were kids. Where you live does make a difference. We live in the city…lots of commuter traffic and tourist traffic…ergo lots of strangers. I would NEVER have left my kids in the car…or my dogs…</p>
<p>Yep. My dad had a station wagon and he’d load up a bunch of kids in there. No seatbelts either. On long trips we’d have the seat down and we’d sleep in the wagon part, no seats, no seat belts. Dad also would buy icecream for other kids who didn’t have their dime when he bought for us. Things were quite different then. No one wore bike helmets either, and yes, we were left in the car with the windows open when parents ran into some place for an errand. We were also told to go outside and play until dinner or lunch with few restrictions on where we could go and that was the way it just worked in our neighborhood. At ages that were very young You don’t see kids that young left at play grounds or places anymore, but that was the case when I was growing up.</p>
<p>Acticle doesn’t say how old the child was. </p>
<p>The mother’s error is not that she left child in car for 5 minutes in 75 deg weather; her error is that she did it outside of Whole Foods where there are a high number of privileged, holier-than-thou, helicopter parent shoppers.</p>
<p>^I have to agree with you there.</p>
<p>And yeah, the police talking–this is how kids end up in Foster care and parents get criminal records. I’m sure that’s all good for the kids.</p>
<p>So are you saying that if the family was Black, Hispanic or…and this event took place in a less affluent area that no one would care? </p>
<p>It’s not about caring, though. Caring would be making some effort to find the mom. Instantly calling 911 to report her with no information at all is not caring. </p>
<p>garland, I was speaking in a more general sense about how the bar has been raised in necessary level of vigilance in parenting to pass as a good parent(or dog owner.) Not that I’m saying anything new there. But no, I am under no illusion that seat belts cool the car or the occupant in that seat. At least not my car. That may come some day, though.</p>
<p>What I don’t understand is why the police arrested her if she really came out after five minutes. I don’t really fault somebody for calling the police, because there’s no telling how long mom would be in the store. But wouldn’t it have been better for the cop to just tell her to never leave her kid in the car alone ever? And is that really the law now?</p>
<p>How are passers by supposed to know how long she will be in the store? How long do you wait - until the kid is showing signs of heat exhaustion? I don’t see a problem with the strangers calling for help. If she was really only gone for 5 minutes, then she probably should not have been arrested and the charges may be dropped. </p>
<p>How many parents have you heard say they just turned their back for a second, or were gone for 5 minutes? Parents are not always accurate or honest with themselves about how long they leave their children unattended.</p>