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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!