By LawInspectsYes, it can be illegal to leave your kids in the car alone right here in the United States, but that depends a lot on where you live, like which state you live in. Like, this is more of a state law matter because each state has different laws regarding this, and sure enough, if you want to be certain about that, just check back on your state’s laws. Anyway, let’s still try to understand it all in a much better way here.
States Where It’s Clearly Illegal
Some states leave little room for confusion. For example, Michigan law says that a child under six must not be left alone in a car unless there is no danger of harm. And, in any case, there must be a person at least 13 years old with the child to supervise. Should something occur to the child, even if only an injury, worse could be death, the responsible adult would be looking at several years in jail, or perhaps in prison.
There is Kaitlyn’s Law in California; it forbids the leaving of a child unattended in a car while the engine is running or keys are in the ignition, or if the conditions are unsafe. Texas prohibits leaving in a vehicle a kid under the age of seven in a vehicle for more than five minutes unless someone 14 years of age or older is present with them. Illinois has a law that permits only 10 minutes of leaving children who are under six years of age.
Kentucky is a hardline kind of state when it comes to Bryan’s Law. Forgetting a child under eight in a car on a hot day, with the kid ending up dying of heatstroke, will carry with it a manslaughter charge for which the parent may be imprisoned.
Where It’s Not Directly Illegal, But Still Risky
Certain states, such as New York, may not have a particular statute that declares, “Don’t leave your kid in the car.” It is not quite an invitation either to have them safe or legal. If a child is put in danger, even by accident, a person might be charged with child neglect or endangerment. Such are grave charges that can lead courts to either send people to jail or the sentences.
Nevada follows a general rule, also. A child under seven is left in a car, and their health is at risk, the responsible adult goes to jail. Plain and simple! So, even without a direct law, things can go downhill quite fast.
What Makes It “Illegal”?
Several key factors decide whether it’s legal or not:
- Age of child: Children under six, seven, or eight, in most states.
- Length of time: Some places could deem anywhere from five to ten minutes as too long.
- Supervision:The red flag would come up if no responsible person, such as a mature older teen or adult, is present.
- Weather conditions: Any situation involving extreme heat or cold suddenly becomes a dangerous one.
Here in Michigan, it does not matter if you intended any harm or not. If the law says you are forbidden from leaving a child alone, and you did, you may be facing charges alone for making the wrong decision.
What Happens If You Break the Law?
The outcome depends on the situation. If nothing else is harmful done to the child, then it might be just a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine or a short period in jail.
Now, depending upon the gravity of child abuse, penalties may increase rapidly, for example, in Michigan, the law could take one serious injury punishment up to 10 years. There is a heavier punishment if the child dies, which can go up to 15 years. Of course, many other jurisdictions act similarly, punishing neglect at a higher level in particular.