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202436 tn?1326474333

What would YOU do?

Here's the scenario:  

You are driving down the road and the car in front of you has small children (carseat age) that are either NOT restrained in their carseats or there ARE no carseats.  What would you do?

34 Responses
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689528 tn?1364135841
If they were sitting and in a seat belt I don't think I would call at all....but if the children were hopping around and standing and not in a seat belt. I would definitely call. A police officer would pull them over and charge them if they saw it themselves and someone shouldn't get away with that. It's distracting to the driver and cars are not the safest things to begin with.
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202436 tn?1326474333
I'll be a little more specific about the situation.  The passenger (the mother) reaches back and pulls a toddler from the backseat into her lap and starts smooching on her.  The other child is free to roam the back seat.  

(yes I have a point to this but I want to see what everyones initial reaction would be before I go into detail)
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1303813 tn?1303159362
I'd call the police, even if it was my own mum who was the driver. Because my sister was the same HATED being in her car seat undone her belt EVERYTHING. My mum pulled over and put her back in EVERYTIME! But thats not the point.
In the US is there a certain age and or height limit you have to be to be in a car seat, like if you're under 6 you have to be in a car seat or you're like a certain height you have to be in a car seat... Cause there is here.
but still you should do everything to make your Kids safe, not a stupid thing like that.

Gosh

x
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1152782 tn?1451101426
Seriously?!?

Once I was on a road trip to visit another bakery with my boss, his wife and 3 kids.  While we were driving the wife breast fed her (nearly 2 year old) baby. And then later on, one of the others had to pee so my boss passed back a cup where the boy peed in it while we're driving AND while I'm there.  Then handed it back up to dad.  Where he put it in the cup holder that was in between me and him in the front!!! I had to sit next to an open container of urine the next hour and a half gagging and trying not to show them, while the kids had free rane (sp?) of the back of the van!!  I was so mortified and young I had no idea what to do, so I did nothing...But yeah, I would call the cops!! That's dangerous and illegal.
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1041303 tn?1421387341
I have called the cops on people like that, and don't have a problem doing it again. Thats what laws are for, if you break them then you need to pay the consequences. No child should have to pay for their parents ignorant choice.
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202436 tn?1326474333
Yes there are restrictions.  ANYONE under 4'9" is supposed to be in an age appropriate restraint...either carseat or booster seat.


The reason I brought this up is becuase of a sitaution DH ran into the other day on the way home from work.  

There was a small car in front of him, a man was driving, women in the passenger seat, there were 2 smal children (toddler size) in the back seat...there WERE carseats but they were NOT being utilized.  DH witnessed the women reach in the back and grab the smaller of the two and pull him/her up front into her lap and sat there holding the child and kissing it.  DH called 911 to report it.  The operator asked if he could read the license plate number.  Well it just so happeend that he was going to Kroger to get gas and they pulled in as well.  So DH parked a few spaces away from them and gave the 911 operator the tag number.  I guess the driver (a man in his 50's) assumed DH was following them and he came over cussing up a storm at DH asking what the "f" his problem was and blah blah. DH told him that he was on the phone with 911 reporting the fact that they did not have their kids in a carseat.  The man became very irrate and started threatening DH, cursing and swearing and even TOLD DH he was going to have him put in jail becuase he knew the sheriff (DH worked at the jail for awhile and knows the laws).  So this guy gets on his phone blabbering about "I need a car here NOW" DH asked the 911 operator if he was on them phone with them and she was like "uh no"  well then this guy goes to his trunk all aggressive like and reaches in like he's gonna grab something so DH told the operator "this man is making threatening gestures, I DO have a firearm and I'm loading it as we speak." and with that he cocked his 9mm, well being as DH had his window down the guy heard him **** it and immediately shut the trunk but went on cursing and threatening.  THe 911 operator heard it all..  

So the police finally show up.  The guy tries to tell the cops "I bet he has dope in his truck" LMAO, whatever.  Then DH made the comment about how has 4 kids and one on the way and he would never think of not having them in carseats.  The guy then gets all sarcastic and looks at DH's truck and says "I don't see a carseat in there" to which DH replies "that's becuase my kids don't RIDE in THIS truck, I have 2 other vehicles they ride in and BOTH of them have carseats"  DH shows the cops a PICTURE he took of the women kissing on the baby...the couple tried to say that the baby spit up and that's why she pulled it up front.  The officer told them that they should have pulled over etc etc.  Anyway long story short...my whole point in this is that the ignorant cops here told my DH "next time just don't worry abuot it, let it go" and DH was like EXCUSE ME?  What if they got into an accident?  

It just flabbergasts me that the cops tell him to ignore it next time.  In other words, don't give a crap about someone endangering their children, who cares?  The cops didn't do squat to the guy even though there was proof of it.  What is this world coming to?
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203342 tn?1328737207
I'd call the police and try to get a good look at the license plates. I called the cops one time when I saw three children left in a pickup truck while the parent went into the store. The children were hopping in and out of the truck and I felt it could get dangerous.
If we call when we see a pet left in a hot car then why wouldn't we call for a child? And yes, I've called when I've seen a pet left in a hot car as well!
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1035252 tn?1427227833
No offense but I've kind of come to the conclusion that you can do anything in Georgia as long as you're not speeding while doing it. THAT they don't like. That's a ridiculous situation and you might want to consider talking to the chief at the police station about giving his officers a talk about priorities.
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203342 tn?1328737207
Wow, I just read what you last wrote. The cops just blew this whole thing off?! That's what worries me. I know in our city we have a shortage of police and we've been warned that it may take awhile for them to show up if you have an emergency.  Doesn't make me feel very good!
I think they pick and choose what sounds the most important. I know when my son had his car broke into twice they never showed up, they just told him  to file a report.
I think that we're seeing this in a lot of cities. There's just a shortage of police and they have to pick and choose what sounds the most important or the biggest emergencies, I guess.
Still, not a good feeling.
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1303813 tn?1303159362
If we get caught doing that over here, you get a fine, and if you dont have car seats the police take the kids with them in car seats.
Hmmm thats not right.
I would be like 'YOU WHAT?'.... So if them kids got hurt and Died and I was a witness, The police and judge would use the fact ' You were a witness and you saw everything then Why Didnt you ring the police of this?' and they used this against me in court. I'd be like 'I will Sue you for every penny you got mate.'

Thats BANG out of order and they shouldnt have done that, they should've taken into account they are little kids and they could of died.!!!!

Stupid


x
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202436 tn?1326474333
I agree.  Unfortunately where I am there's a lot of "small town politics" going on. Unless it's something THEY consider an emergency they'd rather not be bothered.  Talking to the Chief or the Sheriff wouldn't get anything done. BEcuase they themselves could care less.  Most of the cops around here are too fat to do anything to begin with.  

We don't have a shortage of police and matter of fact on any given day you can see several cars huddle in parking lots while they shoot the breeze becuase they have nothing to do.  

The most exciting thing that's happened here recently was a cop shot a guy who attacked him and tried to get his gun (the guy had JUST gotten outta jail, go figure) and then some dipwad killed himself playing russion roulette.  But even those two incidents happened 2 weeks apart.  So they don't have the excuse of prioritizing what constitutes and emergency..the only excuse they have is sheer laziness.

I almost tihnk they deliberately choose the laziest people to become deputies.  When DH worked at the jail we watched all the guys who had gotten in trouble, or didn't do their jobs, get sent to mandate to become deputies while the guys who did their jobs, never broke the rules and were extremely reliable were passed over time and time again.


Gotta love a small town.  It just slays me that the cops around here are so "forgiving" of all these people putting their children in harms way.  
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1123420 tn?1350561158
Oh wow i am completely disgusted that nothing was done to that ma, not only for endangering his children but for the horrible threats towards your DH.  This world is so messed up, there so worried about making the stupid laws about no smoking in bars and crap, then worrying about crap like this

Which reminds me, Mom2Ariana, text-ed me and said she just pulled into a parking lot and there were two children in the car windows rolled up, hot as heck outside and the parents were in the store.  I was shocked, that irritates me so bad.  then about 20 minutes after she tells me that, I went up town to get some dinner, and pulled into the grocery store and there was 2 kids in the car by themselves.  One about 6 or 7 and the other had to be maybe 2 or 3.  and the keys were left in the car and the car was on.  they were jumping around rolling the windows up and down, music blaring.  and what is that mother thinking not only leaving them out there, but leaving the keys in there and the car started, that 7 year old could have put it in gear or something.. some people are so dumb, it irritates me.  If i would have time i would have sat there till there mother came out and said something to her.  I could never imagine leaving my baby in the car alone, or in the heat like that.  I would be worried of over heating him, or someone stealing them.  There a child molesters out there, kidnappers.  Kids are being taking everyday.. and parents just don't seem to care... Im so like shocked to read this.. i would def. had done the same thing your Dh had done.. Kudos to him, hes a great guy and can def. tell hes a great father!
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1035252 tn?1427227833
ammanda...isn't Rachel in the south, too? I don't know what it is but a lot of people have babies young here in the south, and then do REALLY stupid things with them. I know that happens everywhere, but I've seen what mom2ariana described SO many times...and twice I actually stood outside of the car and waited to make sure the parent was going to be back shortly and told them that I would call the police if I ever saw it again when they got there. One time I called the police because I stood out there for 5 minutes, there was a 2 or 3 year old boy strapped into a closed car with no windows up and no A/C in the middle of a FL summer....and I don't know how long he had been there before I got there, but after 5 minutes I called the cops, waited until they got there (another 8 minutes) and said if they didn't charge the woman I would personally find her and beat her @$$. there was something in the news about her getting busted the next day...but it made me rather irate.


I also was driving on the highway yesterday with DH and he goes "WTF?! stupid ******** (some unrepeatable words)" and pointed at the car next to us where this child still young enough to use a sippy cup (maybe 2, MAYBE 3) was sitting in a car with the windows completely down and he wasn't restrained AT ALL while his dad was smoking a joint in the front seat and blaring his music....we tried to get his license plate number but, no surprise, he HAD no license plate. we called the FHP but we were already out of town and he tore out of the stoplight so I have no clue if he was caught or not.
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1152782 tn?1451101426
Oh my goodness.  Well good for ya'll calling anyway!! I can't believe the cops are like that.  But at least you know you did everything you could.
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1225070 tn?1344709174
I would completely ignor the police...If you push something hard enough they have to cave...btw I'm from Georiga too...The laws with children aren't that great, my "bad" aunt was doing drugs and all kinds of other disgusting stuff around her kids, putting them in danger and GOD knows what else...it took a lot of calling and pressuring for us to get someone to do something about it. The cops can say all they wont about "not worrying about it" but like I said, you keep pushing and they'll have to start taking you seriously!!!
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1102290 tn?1278499953
I would have given the dirty look and probably yelled some crap at them .... but if I saw the mother pull the kid to the front seat I would have called the cops... I really can not come up with anything --- I am just in shock.
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1287128 tn?1331134538
What's the point of having a law if its okay to break it? In my town tho i live close to minneapolis but about an hour away that i'm in a small town in wi but i think our cops are strict so i don't think it'd be an issue of them not getting in trouble. Its something that is so important.. your literally dealing with the life of a child. Parents make mistakes but this is just utter stupidity there is no excuse for that. As someone else said, kudos to your hubby for at least trying because someone has to speak up for the little kids of the world- sounds like you got yourself a great guy!
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1262373 tn?1281543782
well personally I always put my children in their carseats, however I am guilty of getting the in 3rd row of the van and taking my infant out an nursing while my hubby drives.  Then after the baby was full enough not to cry anymore I'd put her back in her seat buckle her back up and climb back up front.  But my other child never got to get out and climb everywhere while I was nursing.  As far as the cop goes.....I've had an incident or two and have noticed the total lack of concern with the police here in GA.  We had an attempted robbery at our home and I called the police - it took them 30 mins to show up and then when they "circled the neighborhood and couldn't find anyone" insinuated that I was crazy and imagined the whole thing!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? Why in the world would I waste an hour of my life reporting it if I was making it up??? For real people - anyway my point is that I think that sometimes it's necessary to hold your child in your lap but a child shouldn't ever be roaming around the back seat and point number 2 is that the cops here in GA SUCK!
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1035252 tn?1427227833
I have to concur...I live in North Florida, aka South Georgia...and we cross the line all the time to go to Thomasville and like I said as long as you're not speeding you can do just about anything in GA and it's golden with the cops. Not that our FL cops are MUCH better, but I live in a college town so they're a bit more diligent.
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202436 tn?1326474333
what part of georgia are you in?
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492921 tn?1321289896
I personally have called the cops a few times for children left in a car in the summer alone. It gets in the 100's here and doesn't take long to heat up a parked car weather the windows are down or not. I worked at a video renal store parents always thought it was ok to just run in and look for a movie while there child stays in the car. Not ok with me.

Come to think about it the last two incidents I heard in the news of infants dieing in a car were Florida  and georgia.  This just makes me so sad. They can't speak for  themselves we have to.  
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1123420 tn?1350561158
Yea shes from Alabama.  But Im from the North, up in Michigan, and our cops and laws are just as ridiculous.. Like my Sons grandmas boyfriends daughter (ha confusing) just got her kids taken away for doing drugs, selling drugs, cheating the welfare program, and letting her kids play outside unattended on a busy street right in town. and she did coak and crack while she was pregnant with her kids and drinking, parties. she even let a man rape my DFs sister for some hits of crack, with her kids in the house.. and this has been going on for years, they just took them away 4 days ago, and gave them back yesterday.. wtf.. why would they give them back.  Thats why i say if you dont look after your kids then no one will.. the law *****, and they dont care.  I just feel so bad for those innocent children out there that dont have there parents looking after them.  I even took a gun pointed at me by my own sisters Boyfriend last year for standing up for her small children, they were smoking weed with the kids right there. and my sister was holding her baby, breastfeeding, while taking hits of the joint. i was disgusted so I spoke up, yea well he didnt like that.. lol..  I love children and i would do anything to protect a child, even if it isnt mine, and thats not even my duty, these cops get paid to take care of us and they cant even do that right.  
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202436 tn?1326474333
Something else that bugs me...is seeing kids under the age of 6 and as young as 1 out walking the streets by themselves or with a sibling that is also under 6.  Do you REALLY think a 4,5 or 6 year old is gonna know how to properly supervise a 1, 2 or 3 yo?  

I don't have a fenced in yard and i won't let my Ds5 and DD6 outside unless they are with me, DH or DD13.  They are NOT allowed to leave the yard without DH or I and DS1 does not go out unless DH or I are outside.  

We had an incident here a couple of years ago where a women (who lived in government housing) left her kids home along while she was doing I don't know what.  They were 10 mos, 3 or 4 and around 6.  Well the christmas tree caught on fire.  The 10 month old girl was killed and the 2 boys had such severe burns that they were sent to the burn center in augusa.  One stayed there for several months, the other was there over a year and still had numerous appts to go to.  Fortunately the mother WAS arrested and charged and the 2 boys had a sweet grandmother who got custody of them.  It's sad, just sad.  I'm not a perfect parent but if anything I think I'm a little OVER protective of my kids...of where they go, what they do and who they are with.  
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1303813 tn?1303159362
my 10 yr old sister plays with my brother in the field across the road but we can see them at ALL times, they also play with my sisters best friend and her older brother and sister (they're about 16 and 17) but they are always where we can see them if me and my mum are unable to go out side with them, Either doing work or cooking dinner and cant go out with the cooker on, but we can see them and most times hear them laughing away and trust me if anything happened we'd hear them scream too.... But they are ALWAYS in view. ALWAYS! my boyfriends sister Im sorry should NOT have a child and another one on the way, she goes out EVERYNIGHT and dumps her son on whoevers available! I'm sorry but NO! and on weekends again going out drinking (Even now when she is pregnant) and OMG on weekends her son goes to her parents, and say whilst she is still there her son needs a clean nappy, she will say 'oh mum can do it, he aint my responsibility' Im like you sodding what love? You created that life Bloody take care of it or one day it wont be there you selfish cow... ( I didnt tell her to her face yet, but EVERYONE wants to, just waiting for the right time) ANYWAYS.... Evenings she just goes out... gets pissed and then yeah, In the mornings when your child gets up or if they're in a routine and they wake up the same time everyday get up about half an hour before? nope she dont, she stays asleep on the sofa and doesnt bother, when her son is in her care he has the worst diet in the world I feel so sorry for him. she is attempting to potty train him and she lets him run around naked, at her mums house on the weekends he wears pants, when he needs the loo, he knows what to do on it he just doesnt know that he needs to pull down his pants because his mum never taught him. i dont think he really knows who is mum actually is. His Speech for a 2 1/2 yr old. Is NON existant... he has SO many people around him and all he can say is nanny, grandad and no. is all, whereas my 3yr old brother at that age, my gosh you can have a full on convo with him and he had less people around him. But it was the encouragement my brother had that my nephew is never going to have from his mum....
Its so sad. and she has one on the way!!!!
about this baby... (The new one)
she basically concieved this child through jealousy.... because her brother was having a baby and she wasnt getting any attention (The wrong reason to have a child)...
and now her brother is having a girl she wants a girl, but if she has a girl her son would be totally forgotten!!

Oh and she refuses to get a job even after this baby is born because she cant be bothered!!!! but she can be bother to get rat arsed everynight with 'NO money' and the only reason her son will be going school is because of my Boyfriend other wise he wouldnt be going to pre school, and would start school when he was 5 if she could be bothered to take him!! Freaking annoys me, she is so crap!!

I have so much more, but i'd actually be here forever, and probs run out of space!!!

Thats not a good mum

Another incident:
In this country Sunday or Monday a little boy of 5 months was taken to Hospital due to 40 degree burns FROM THE SUN! because the mum was Sunbathing and forgot she had her son with her!!!

OMG! Some people are just so ARGH! If you have children you guard them for your life!! Not give birth then think awh other people can do it, ive done the hard part of giving birth and carrying it around for nine months!

Its so ridiculous.


Ahh I feel better.

x
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