What do you think?
By lucy02
@lucy02 (5015)
United States
March 14, 2008 5:57pm CST
I saw on the news this morning where a mother in Chicago was being charged with child endangerment after leaving her 2 y/o alone strapped in her car seat while she went and dropped money in the Salvation Army kettle. She said she was only gone 3 min. and the car was within her sight.It was sleeting outside at the time. I just read that the charges were dropped. I think the police should have just warned her if her account is accurate. There has never been any history of child abuse or neglect before. I think the police may have went a bit overboard. I know how important it is to watch your children and think a warning would have done on this lady. What do you think?
3 people like this
4 responses
@GreenMoo (11833)
•
15 Mar 08
I hadn't heard this story before, but if what the lady says is true then it does sounds as if the police were a little over enthusiastic in charging her. The fact that the charges were dropped could be seen as backing up that view.
However, the police have a thin line to tread so I don't necessarily think that they were in the wrong to react. I'm tempted to think that there was more to this. there are allot of people who do leave their kids unattended and I suppose it could be said that this story will give them a jolt.
1 person likes this
@enchantedleppard (1541)
• United States
15 Mar 08
I think this case went over the top. It sounds to me as if she was paying attention to what was going on and watching her car, I dont understand why they can charge things like this without researching the situation first. I think the law is too eager to charge people based on hearsay and accusations, then find out the facts later. Its a waste of money, undue stress and a waste of time.
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
15 Mar 08
I think you are right. I think people are just over sensitive to it now because of all the cases of parents leaving their kids in the car in the hot summer sun. Or the ones that "forget" that their kid was in the car. I think in her case, leaving her kid in the car wasn't a terrible thing. The car was in her sight and it was sleeting out. If she had taken the kid with her people would have given her dirty looks because she took her kid out in that weather.
1 person likes this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
22 Apr 08
I too think that the police are just over-reacting. I know that it is dangerous to leave children in the vehicle, but if it's for less than 5 minutes, than I shouldn't see any problem with that. However, it would be best if the lady had just taken her child with her though, since there are lots of child kidnapping nowadays and the rate is very alarming.
