Thursday, Aug. 19, 2004 | 9:03 a.m.
I'm confused! How can anyone determine if the act of leaving a child (or children) in a hot car is intentional or willful? No parent would intentionally place their child in the middle of a busy freeway, because they know what would happen.
If a child is sleeping and the mother or father does not want to disturb the child and decides to run into a store, or house, for whatever the reason, I agree that the act was not intentional or willful. A choice was made, however. We all have choices, and sometimes we make the right one and other times we make the wrong one. How can one determine what's intentional in a case like this?
My heart goes out to the mom of little boy who recently died here in a hot car. The choice she made will always be with her. All the parents in past cases had good reasons for leaving their children in the car. Again, a choice was made to bring them along instead of leaving them at home. Perhaps there was no sitter or no one else to do the chore. Whatever the reason, there was no intention to harm the child. On the other hand, we always feel it would never happen to me.
Let us address the real problem -- the act of leaving children in hot cars.
I hope the bill being proposed by state Sen. Valerie Weiner is strong enough to support not only a $300 fine but a mandatory 30-day sentence for leaving children alone in a hot car. No excuse should be acceptable and no one should be exempt from the law. This will force parents to make the right choice.
CORNELIA ROBINSON
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