Santa Monica Mom busted for leaving kid in the car unattended for 45 seconds
This is an unbelievable story that a Santa Monica Mom sent to Jen Levinson and she then circulated on her list. I plan to look into it further and see what other rules about parenting I'm ignorant of. After all, I didn't realize I was living in a totalitarian state where neighbors spy on one another until I read this from a Mom. Read it and weep:
Earlier today I was rushing like most to get out of the house with my son and realized after I pulled out of our garage I left my cell phone on my coffee table. I pulled up to the back of our home in the ally (our front door is 25 feet from the ally) and ran into the house to retrieve it and left him in the car with the doors locked and windows up. I was gone for LITERALLY about 45 seconds and returned to the car and sped off. I took him to the park. Apparently, while I ran inside of my home, my license plate was noted by a neighbor and called into theSanta Monica Police Department for Child neglect and endangerment. The Santa Monica Police Dept proceeded to interview 3 out of 4 of my neighbors about my ability to parent while I was out at the park. They came with a long list of questions and concerns and shared them with my neighbors. So unaware of this, at about 3PM, as I was playing with my son on the couch, the Santa Monica Police Dept shows up at my door letting me know that they had a report called in for child neglect and they had to investigate us and child protective service would be involved. At this point I am frozen in fear, teary and shaking with the police in my living room accusing me of being a bad parent and scaring the !@#$ out of me. Freaking out I of pleaded my case not knowing that this is illegal. I knew it was wrong when I ran into the house and left Cooper but not illegal. I was given a notice type citation and had to call the SGT of the Santa Monica police Dept and plead my case. After review they have decided to not file a report and send it into Social Services. I just want you all to know you never know who is watching and that small errand in the store or that quick trip back into the house or post office, coupled with someone who has nothing better to do is a dangerous combination. All they need is a license plate number to track you down and scare the !@#$ out of you. Please be warned and I hope nobody ever has to go through this.
Barbara Correa writes about work and family for the Los Angeles Daily News.
Comments
I saw this on JL too and I have to say my BS detectors went up.
Sometimes when you're tired it seems like 45 seconds...
Posted by: Sue Doe-Nim | January 23, 2008 2:33 PM
This IS unbelievable. What parent has not done this -- to take the shopping cart to the collector in the parking lot, running back inside home real quick to grab wallet (or blanket, or diaper bag). And to think SMPD resources went to it.
Posted by: Eric | January 25, 2008 5:54 AM