Rant to people leaving children in cars alone…..

[luckymom30]

Last Friday I pulled into Key bank in White Center, the car just to the left of me to men got out and left a young boy about 3-4 years old in the car alone with keys in the ignition. Meeting the men in the bank I told them that I saw the biy was left alone and I was told to mind my own business. These men were in the bank at least 20 minutes and anything could have happened to this little boy.

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[jellyfish]

This is illegal, from my understanding.

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[pam]

Yes, could have called police to let them know, at least then you could leave knowing you did everything in your power to help. Why people still leave kids in the car….with or without keys in ignition!?!?!? arrrggghhhhhh

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[KBear]

Would they have considered it your business if you saw someone trying to abduct their child? Then the child’s safety IS your business. Call the police. I think you also could tell the bank employees. They could help the next person in line while the idiots take proper care of their child.

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[anonyme]

This is not only incredibly stupid, but flat-out illegal – no matter the time frame. The possibilities for a tragic result are too numerous to mention. I have reported such incidents several times, and there can be serious consequences for the offender. A home visit from police is likely, as is a CPS referral. The repercussions can be even more serious, including jail time for the parent and removal of the child from the home. Not a laughing matter.

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[luckymom30]

Actually I did tell the bank teller and then caught up to the 2 men. I will call the police next time. Leaving a child unattended is just as bad as leaing a pet without a window cracked and water.

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[KBear]

Or worse, since a pet is less likely to open the door and wander off–or try to start the car up and drive away!

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[carrieann]

http://www.notevenforaminute.org/

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[jellyfish]

It’s sad, but every year we hear of cases in the news where a child has been left in a car & died from heatstroke. Then there are all the other dangers that have been mentioned (ie. abduction, wandering away, starting up the car, etc…).

I can only assume that these men are abusers via neglect. Terrible judgment, or maybe they have no love or compassion for the kid. Tragic.

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[ToddinWestwood]

“We live by our own rules South of Roxbury. Keep your big city nose outta our business”

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[TDe]

A) Your address doesn’t read, South of Roxbury, Washington, your address reads Seattle, Washington – or maybe Burien, Washington where there’s only a line in the street showing the difference in townships – so you’re just as “big city” as the rest of us.

B) It’s not about you or your business. It’s about the safety of a child. This law was created because of people who think they know better than anyone else, so they can leave a child unattended in a car and everything will always be OK – regardless of the mountains of historical data proving the opposite. If you read newspapers or watch the news, you know this law was created to stop neglectful parents from unwittingly placing their children in danger.. and

C) By all means, loudly and publicly defend your right to break this law and put children in harm’s way. See how well that works for you and your children.

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[anonyme]

I hesitate to point out the obvious, but carjacking and child abduction/rape, etc. are very real possibilities. White Center ain’t exactly Mayberry, although none of these risks are completely absent in Mayberry, either. Last time I looked (which was yesterday) WC wasn’t some bucolic rural community.

It is absolutely the right and responsibility (“business”)of the community to report cases of child abuse and/or endangerment.

I also live “south of Roxbury” and solidly within Seattle City limits. As TDe pointed out, the only discernable difference is a line on a map.

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[sam-c]

the last time I saw a woman leave children in a parked car (summer of ’08), she left them in the car at PCC, at Admiral.

2 little boys. one was probably 2, the other 4 yrs old. you can be stupid in white center or you can be stupid in Admiral. stuff happens everywhere. how did the lady know that I wouldn’t kidnap the kids ? or the next person that drove in the parking lot.

I debated whether or not to call the police, but by the time they would have gotten there, she came back. she was gone for maybe 7 minutes.

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[JoB]

i’m with sam-c..

stupid is stupid no matter what side of a geographical or social line it appears on…

toddinwestwood…

last time i lived in one.. those small town noses were a lot bigger.. and btw.. a lot more effective… than big city noses…

a small town nose would have called the police chief.. and your mother ;->

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[Que]

So, I have a question…. What age do people think that it IS ok to leave kids in the car? Clearly it has to be OK at some point…

We aren’t going to make a 16 year old come into the store with us just to pick up bread for example… So how old is old enough to stay in the car?

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[luckymom30]

I found this web link for both car safety of children and also a guide as to when it is safe to leave a child home alone.

http://www.seattleschild.com/article/20090601/SCM13/905279939

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[sam-c]

that is a good link- thanks.

before reading it, I would have guessed 11 /12.

there are always different variables and situations of course, as the questions at the end of the article indicate.

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[austin]

Interesting article. It states that “You also can’t leave someone younger than 16 alone in a parked car with the engine running.” with no explanation. I wonder if this relates to the welfare of the child or has something to do with a sole occupant of a running car somehow being in operation of the vehicle. For example would it also be illegal for me, over the age of 16 but not a licensed driver, to occupy a running car alone for the same reason.

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[luckymom30]

Maybe because they would still be considered a minor, but wouldn’t 18 be the age, or maybe 16 years of age because most people have their license and drive at age 16. I have just been seeing way too many little children left alone. I could really get on my soapbox about this as I could about people texting and talking on their cell phones while driving.

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[ToddinWestwood]

Sorry folks. Sarcasm does not translate well in typing. And yes, I am NorRox.

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[me on 28th Ave SW]

Todd, I could tell you were kidding…regardless of which side of the border you reside in.

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[TDe]

My apologies ToddinWestwood. I get my back up pretty quickly when it comes to protecting children. I’ll take a pledge to take a deep breath and read posts twice before responding from now on.

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[sam-c]

I knew Todd wasn’t serious, but I still ‘get my back up pretty quickly’ with all of the north WS=good, south WS=bad, west of 35th=good, east of 35th=bad assumptions made on the forums all the time.

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[Bonnie]

So since I’m south WS west of 35th I’m kinda good/kinda bad? ;)

Those stereotypes have been around for years! 20+ years ago my inlaws felt that way. I don’t think it’s really the case much anymore…if it ever was.

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[JoB]

Bonnie..

i don’t know if you are in a “good” neighborhood or not.. but i do suspect that the phone company thinks your neighborhood is worth installing DSL…

their loss for those of us on the other side of the great cultural divide.. but comcast’s gain:)

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