Just got yelled at for leaving my kid alone in in the car while I went to the pharmacy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's against the law where I am but I do it occasionally. My toddler was sick, fell asleep in the car, older siblings had an outdoor swim lesson. I double parked where I shouldn't have and kept checking on him for drop off/pick up. Sue me!

I would have called the cops if I saw a toddler sleeping in a car alone. Sue me.

[Anonymous]

Leaving your car running anywhere is nuts. I certainly wouldn't do it with my kid in there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This took place in Virginia. I already looked it up. It is not against the law, so I was wondering exactly why the cops would be called in this situation. (The security guard was telling me he would call the cops.) It seems like a waste of taxpayers resources to me. Interesting that is against the law in DC and MD.

The car is on for AC.

I mean, I spent a lot of my childhood reading in the car while my mother ran errands. It doesn’t really feel like a big deal to me. But I suppose the expectation is now that we watch our children like hawks until, what? 13? 20? Then we expect them to be functioning adults? Got it.

What would really be a waste was if you could have been an adult and said “you need to go in the store” but instead police had to do an exhaustive search for your kidnapped child. You got lucky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's against the law where I am but I do it occasionally. My toddler was sick, fell asleep in the car, older siblings had an outdoor swim lesson. I double parked where I shouldn't have and kept checking on him for drop off/pick up. Sue me!

I would have called the cops if I saw a toddler sleeping in a car alone. Sue me.

+1

So would any responsible adult. You have no way to know the temperature in the car, whether the child is asleep or unconscious, whether they’ve been left five minutes or five hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The security guard should have GUARDED and just made sure nobody bothered your kid. THAT would have been actually helpful. A responsible 7 yr old would be fine in a car for ten minutes.

The guard probably did. At 7 years old it’s not my child’s choice, he comes in. And you can’t predict how long a pharmacy line will be. Why risk it? And why try to justify it by saying he’s the very responsible or whatever. Children can’t be expected to keep a cool head under duress. If someone comes over and tells him over and over “unlock the door!” Or worse shows a gun, he’s going to open the door, get thrown out hopefully and the car is high jacked. Not worth it because your kid is too lazy to get up and walk into the store.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:YES, it is a crime here.

The guard did an excellent job. Good for him.

No, it’s not a “crime”.

What do you call it when something is "against the law" ? Are you trying to be cutesy and call it "non-lawful" or something? Yes, it's a crime.

It’s not a crime.

In Maryland, it is a crime. I don't necessarily agree that it's unsafe at seven, but it is a misdemeanor, so I didn't do it.

No it’s not, unless child is under 4.

[Anonymous]

OP, it’s completely fine and legal in the 3 jurisdictions, DC, MD and VA. 7 year olds can call you if there is a problem or even leave the car and find you in the store (no need for it to be running; leave it off). They aren’t confined because they can leave a locked car, and they are > 4 (see MD). These moms are crazy overprotective and love to give legal advice without actually reading the entire statute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This took place in Virginia. I already looked it up. It is not against the law, so I was wondering exactly why the cops would be called in this situation. (The security guard was telling me he would call the cops.) It seems like a waste of taxpayers resources to me. Interesting that is against the law in DC and MD.

The car is on for AC.

I mean, I spent a lot of my childhood reading in the car while my mother ran errands. It doesn’t really feel like a big deal to me. But I suppose the expectation is now that we watch our children like hawks until, what? 13? 20? Then we expect them to be functioning adults? Got it.

You sat in the car long enough to read books while your mother did errands? Why?

The security guard is probably aware of all the carjackings happening.

Details from Washington Post - In 2021 in D.C. and its neighboring jurisdictions in Maryland and Virginia had about 425 carjackings, according to a Washington Post analysis of data from area police departments. By the end of 2023, that number increased to more than 1,000 per year. A lot of the hijackers have guns too. Plus they have this remote jamming device that blocks the locked device making access easy.

Why take that risk? It’s not worth it.

[Anonymous]

In 2024, DO NOT LEAVE the following items in the car unattended:

- Your car keys/fob.
- Anything that isn't screwed down.
- Humans under 18 that cannot drive your car away in an emergency.
- Pets.
- A idling/running vehicle with a human under 18 that cannot /does not drive.

You are asking for a host of unwanted consequences for IGNORING this warning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:YES, it is a crime here.

The guard did an excellent job. Good for him.

No, it’s not a “crime”.

What do you call it when something is "against the law" ? Are you trying to be cutesy and call it "non-lawful" or something? Yes, it's a crime.

It’s not a crime.

In Maryland, it is a crime. I don't necessarily agree that it's unsafe at seven, but it is a misdemeanor, so I didn't do it.

No it’s not, unless child is under 4.

https://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/2005/gfl/5-801.html

(a) A person who is charged with the care of a child under the age of 8 years may not allow the child to be locked or confined in a dwelling, building, enclosure, or motor vehicle while the person charged is absent and the dwelling, building, enclosure, or motor vehicle is out of the sight of the person charged unless the person charged provides a reliable person at least 13 years old to remain with the child to protect the child.

(b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days, or both

I've represented people who were charged under this section. It's absolutely a crime, up to age 8.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This took place in Virginia. I already looked it up. It is not against the law, so I was wondering exactly why the cops would be called in this situation. (The security guard was telling me he would call the cops.) It seems like a waste of taxpayers resources to me. Interesting that is against the law in DC and MD.

The car is on for AC.

I mean, I spent a lot of my childhood reading in the car while my mother ran errands. It doesn’t really feel like a big deal to me. But I suppose the expectation is now that we watch our children like hawks until, what? 13? 20? Then we expect them to be functioning adults? Got it.

You sat in the car long enough to read books while your mother did errands? Why?

The security guard is probably aware of all the carjackings happening.

Details from Washington Post - In 2021 in D.C. and its neighboring jurisdictions in Maryland and Virginia had about 425 carjackings, according to a Washington Post analysis of data from area police departments. By the end of 2023, that number increased to more than 1,000 per year. A lot of the hijackers have guns too. Plus they have this remote jamming device that blocks the locked device making access easy.

Why take that risk? It’s not worth it.

DP. I did this as a kid, because books are interesting and running errands is boring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's against the law where I am but I do it occasionally. My toddler was sick, fell asleep in the car, older siblings had an outdoor swim lesson. I double parked where I shouldn't have and kept checking on him for drop off/pick up. Sue me!

So you illegally parked and illegally left your child in the car? Wow parent of the year here

Should I have blown off the last swim lesson where I would have found out if they passed the level or should I have drug the sick toddler out of the car?

Sick toddler comes out of the car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:YES, it is a crime here.

The guard did an excellent job. Good for him.

No, it’s not a “crime”.

What do you call it when something is "against the law" ? Are you trying to be cutesy and call it "non-lawful" or something? Yes, it's a crime.

It’s not a crime.

In Maryland, it is a crime. I don't necessarily agree that it's unsafe at seven, but it is a misdemeanor, so I didn't do it.

No it’s not, unless child is under 4.

https://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/2005/gfl/5-801.html

(a) A person who is charged with the care of a child under the age of 8 years may not allow the child to be locked or confined in a dwelling, building, enclosure, or motor vehicle while the person charged is absent and the dwelling, building, enclosure, or motor vehicle is out of the sight of the person charged unless the person charged provides a reliable person at least 13 years old to remain with the child to protect the child.

(b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days, or both

I've represented people who were charged under this section. It's absolutely a crime, up to age 8.

Crazy. I was a paid baby sitter at 11 in the great state of Maryland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, it’s completely fine and legal in the 3 jurisdictions, DC, MD and VA. 7 year olds can call you if there is a problem or even leave the car and find you in the store (no need for it to be running; leave it off). They aren’t confined because they can leave a locked car, and they are > 4 (see MD). These moms are crazy overprotective and love to give legal advice without actually reading the entire statute.

+1- the kid has some agency here. They can leave the car and go find you in the store where you went to get the prescription. If they can’t undo the buckle and get out of the car, I wouldn’t leave them, but after age 5 they should be able to do that.

When you talk about anxiety in kids, the antidote is actually more responsibility in not very dangerous situations. I’d love to see the statistics about how many kids OVER THE AGE OF 5 die staying in locked cars during errands vs how many die in school schoolings. Sadly, I bet it is risky to send your kid to school than to do this.

[Anonymous]

Parenting standards have changed so much. In the 80s nobody would question a 7 year old left in the car. Now we do. I won't be surprised when there are fewer babies born as the laws and requirements become even stricter for the next generation.