Mom faces trial for leaving toddler in car

[Catty1]

There was a case in Calgary last year when the mom stopped in somewhere for literally a minute....her sleeping daughter got unbuckled from her car seat by slightly older brother, and started playing with power windows.

Her head got stuck in the window. She was calling for her mom was helped by a passersby who told someone else to look after her while he ran to get help.

Meanwhile the mom came back, thought her daughter was asleep, buckled her back in the car seat and drove home. Then she made the discovery.

If that mom gets away with a court appearance and fine, she should count her blessings. It can and does happen in a split second, as you said, Jackie.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories

[jennielynn1970]

I know things can happen in mere seconds, and there are tons of stories about horrible things happening like that, but I still think this one went beyond what the police had to do. She was feet away from the vehicle, with it locked, alarmed and all that, and had full view of it (she said). She wasn't going shopping, just dropping off coins to the Salvation Army.

Had she left the child for a long time; had she been in a bar drinking; had she left the child in the car and gone to work because she had no baby sitter... those types of things I could understand them prosecuting her for. For walking 10 feet away, with the car in plain sight and locked and alarmed, I just think it's going overboard to say she could get a year in jail.

Making her aware that it is wrong to leave a child of that age alone for any length of time is a good thing, but jailing her for it, that would be ridiculous. A fine, and some community service, and classes on childcare safety and first aid?? I dunno. She doesn't look like some crack junkie who would just leave her kids alone, but then again, just because she looks affluent doesn't mean she should get off easier.

[IRescue452]

I was left in the car all the time, usually by my choice, when my mom ran into the store. And it wasn't locked, and usually was left on so we had radio. I think a lot of us who weren't born yesterday were left in the car at some point. I bet even those cops had been left in the car for a few minutes when they were kids.
I think this particular case is less than neglectful. Another waste of resources.

[Catty1]

I wasn't born yesterday, and I am sure I was left in the car too.

But the case I mentioned above - there are now more little buttons to push and play with, and even with the car locked and alarmed, it wouldn't have prevented the accident from happening.

I don't think she should do jail time - but in light of the tragedy in Calgary, I am glad she was called on it.

JMO

[smokey the elder]

So where was CPS when Nixmarie Brown was getting beaten and tortured??

[Lady's Human]

I can think of any number of "What ifs" covering almost every single activity people do every day. For instance, I fall asleep while watching my 3 y/o. Should I have to answer to CPS? After all, there are any number of evils which could befall him while I nod off for 30 seconds.

The Nanny state needs to go away. The police involved in this would be far more gainfully employed catching actual criminals and guarding against criminal activity instead of creating criminals by going after petty garbage like this.

[Cataholic]

I can think of any number of "What ifs" covering almost every single activity people do every day. For instance, I fall asleep while watching my 3 y/o. Should I have to answer to CPS? After all, there are any number of evils which could befall him while I nod off for 30 seconds.

I was thinking the exact same thing. My son can get out of his carseat, and could operate little buttons, climb into the front seat, out the window, etc. All while I am physically in the car with him. Should I be jailed because of this?

We are out walking in the 'hood, and Jonah darts out into the street. I am right there with him. Should I be jailed because of this?

Jonah goes into the bathroom for his 'needs'. He gets his hand pinched in the door. Should I be jailed because of this? After all, he was not in my sight!

Of course not. There are elements of the crime of child endangering. They require the act of a prudent person, and include words like reasonable, and likely.

Everything happens in a matter of seconds- accidents, intentional acts, good things, and bad. Life is risky. Hell, she could have been attacked, as she approached the kettle, by a mugger with a sleeping child in her arms, knocked to the ground, on top of the child, suffering a skull fracture. Or, with the child in her arms, she could have slipped on ice, or, the other kids could have been hit by a car, kidnapped....and on and on and on.

[lizbud]

I don't think the woman deserves harsh punishment for doing this but
I do think it was bad judgement on her part to be off taking pictures of
the other kids & leaving the baby alone in the car.

What if the car was hit be a passing car, what if it was carjacked?
Things can change in a minute & it's never good to leave an infant
alone like that ever. IMO