Yet Again: Children Left Unattended In Vehicle For Nearly 15 Minutes

PHOTO: Two children were found left alone in a running vehicle today for nearly 15 minutes, a witness who spotted the incident and snapped the photo, tells TLS.The witness says he spotted the children – approximately 2 and 8 years old – in a local shopping center and decided to wait until the parent returned.

“I watched it for 14 minutes”, the witness writes TLS.

But when the woman returned, the man says he pointed out the danger to her, but she argued that it was okay to leave them alone since the 8 year old was watching the toddler.

This story – and similar incidents – should remind parents of the dangers of leaving unattended children in a vehicle – in any weather conditions.

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58 COMMENTS

  7. So sorry that your immediate reaction is to call the police. Were you perhaps raised in the USSR?
    Car was running, no danger to kids, (moderated)

  9. If I was there I would of called DYFES even 2-4 minutes. What would of happened if someone would of stole the car with the kids inside(car was running?? What would of happened if the kid would of gone in to the fron seat and played around and get killed in a acident??
    Would you all still say chil out!! This mother or father needs correct their ways and bh nothing did happen but if something chas vsholom would of they would be looking for support for the tradgedy!!

  10. There is no legal minimum age requirement for a babysitter in New Jersey. The Red Cross offers their certification program to childcare providers as young as 11.

  12. I’d venture that most parents, home along ‘watching’ their own children have found themselves indisposed for >14 minutes (dozed off, bathroom, etc.), exposing their children to myriad significant dangers – knives, flame, outlets, home chemicals, broken glass, high windows, etc. I wonder what ‘DYAFS’ would say about that… Absolutely nothing if they had an ounce of sense.

  14. Hey anonymous, yes, the car was running, and all it takes is one (moderated) to come along, bust the window and take off with the kids and the car…man, I hope you are not a parent

  16. it was not a hot day and the engine was running etc etc.
    There is absolutely NO law in NJ prohibiting leaving children in cars.
    Its a narishea hysteria for bored ppl

  17. Hmmm, and can you tell me what title (law) says its ok when to leave any child, regardless of age in a motor vehicle? Just curious…

  18. For all you people saying there is no law in NJ against leaving your child in a car alone why don’t you ask the wonderful system of DYFS who says it is child neglect to leave any child under 12 alone for any reason.

  21. It doesn’t matter or not if the car was RUNNING!!! Air conditioners CAN fail!!! And just because it wasn’t as hot out today as it’s been temperatures in cars can still rise to DANGEROUS temperatures for young children its common sense NOT to leave your kids in the car. This parent is lucky nothing happened!

  22. Anonymous says:
    AUGUST 19, 2012 AT 5:41 PM
    The. car. was. RUNNING. Chill out.

    You left your kids in a car that was running and the 8 yo was watching the 2 yo?? Im sorry and I know this will get moderated..but you are wrong..leaving them in the car is one thing but then you left the car running..what if the 8 yo decided to try to put it in gear? then what

    Yea and you see nothing wrong with that?

  23. You left your kids in a car that was running and the 8 yo was watching the 2 yo?? Im sorry and I know this will get moderated..but you are wrong..leaving them in the car is one thing but then you left the car running..what if the 8 yo decided to try to put it in gear? then what

    Yea and you see nothing wrong with that?

  24. Their picture shouldn’t be posted on the internet without their permission, even with the face blocked out. I think it should be removed.

  25. I believe it is illegal to leave any youngster younger than 11 alone. Even for a few minutes. Kids could have caused the car to move, the air conditioning could have failed, someone could have stolen the car. {that takes all of 2 minutes to happen}
    Call the police! This mother will do it again and again and when something happens the community will be mourning!

  26. Forget whether it is lawful or not.

    What parent can claim to love their chldren and yet leave them unattended in public? I suppose the same kind of parent who drives with their infant on their lap.

  27. What a bunch of losers! You can’t let an 8 year old watch a 2 year old for 15 minutes? What do you think parents do when they take a shower, take a bathroom break etc?
    Are you telling me that all these smart posters never played outside alone when they were 8 years old? Were never tasked with watching a younger sibling for 15 minutes?
    For goodness sake the city of new york required us to take public transportation once we were 10! We took city buses alone! Without our Mommy to hold our hands! This is not a case of a careless or forgetful mother leaving a baby in a hot car. Learn to diffrentiate! Learn the differance! This is the problem with the nanny state- we hear one horrible story where a parent left a baby in a car – not on purpose mind you but by mistake – a mistake that anyone can make. Yes even the holier than thou posters here can make such a horrible mistake & now it becomes a crime for an 8 year old to watch their sibling for 15 minutes?
    DOWN WITH THE NANNY STATE!!!!!

  28. these incidents continue happening-& just won;t stop R”L-for the same reason that we are having such tragedies-of Gedolim & innocent other niftar R”L Etc…-A MAJOR problem effecting todays generation of instant gradification. FACING REALITY & DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. when we don’t do anything about it (ex. fining parents or taking away their vehicle etc…) they continue doing it with no fear or concern involved-knowing we will never listen to the experienced when they tell us to NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN ALONE EVEN FOR A SECOND etc….When tragedies occur in klal yisroel R”L & no Gedolim or anyone do anything to stop it i.e. teshuva, fasting etc… then we leave Hashem no choice BUT to send us another reminder wake-up call R”L
    May we all learn from our mistakes & FACE REALITY by doing something about it so we won’t need to hear of more innocent children left alone or Tragedies C”V

  30. Car running? That is in itself a great danger!!

    Have you not ever heard of a scenario when a child was ‘playing aroung’ in a RUNNING vehicle & the car accidentally went into gear?!?!?

  31. Car running? That is in itself a great danger!!

    Have you not ever heard of a scenario where a child was ‘playing around’ in a RUNNING vehicle & the car accidentally went into gear?!?!?

  33. It’s obviously not the most sensible thing to do regardless whether its illegal or not. But why are we coming down so hard on the mother- do we know all the facts surrounding this incident -No!! And assuming that the mother is wrong, I ask you; do we really want to report it to authorities and cause her and her family so much agmas nefesh. I cannot think of any heter to call police or dyfus on her. Futhermore life experience has taught me that all these so called “holy than thou” people out there who are so quick to condemn others and judge others in such harsh terms are usually rotten to the core themselves – just they are so caught up with themselves that they don’t even realize how bad and evil they really are. Its a fact so no point trying to knock this one down. So to all you out there jumping all over this mother I say to you take a good look at yourselves and you’ll be surprised at what you may see.

  34. I wouldn’t leave my kids in a car unattended for more then a minute (like to pick up something ore someone from the curb). However, to judge the running vehicle portion, I have a remote starter that I use to keep the air conditioner on and the keys are NOT in the ignition.

  36. thank goodness my kids dont have pink crocs – take the picture off – no reason for it fyi- thats why i dont go to night out against crime – dont want to be caught in a picture thats posted online.

  37. Some kids are responsible at age 8 and others aren’t responsible at age 12. you’ve got to know your child and how responsible he/she is. I would have left my 8 year old to watch a toddler because I knew my child was very mature for her age. Every situation is different. If a parent leaves a toddler with an older child, apparently he/she knows what his/her older child is capable of. So mind your own business everyone and chill.

  38. While heat was not an issue in this case, 8 children died in hot cars last week. The highest number since they started keeping records. 553 children died in 2001 in hot cars. While there are no statistics for children left in running cars, there are cases of car thefts, carjacks, and cars put in gear with children in them. Children should not be left alone in cars under any circumstance.

  39. There is no specific statute or regulation in NJ which spells out the age at which a child/adolescent may “babysit.” It may say something to the effect of a “reasonable” age; Nevertheless, if DYFS was called, they would likely investigate as they do in all these situations. And when that happens, it’s not a pleasant situation. You must hire an attorney and the DYFS hearing can be costly and ultimately rule that the parent is unfit. Believe me, I work for a law firm, and we’re representing a professional who left her child in the car for 1/2 hr. She is now fighting DYFS in the courts;

  48. not only is it unlawful to leave children unattended in a car,but it is also unlawful to leave a car idling for more than 3 mins. according to the EPA.

  49. To MYOB and your ilk:

    YAAF. Loosley translated, You Are A Fool. Instead of your smarky comments, explain the majority comments: 1. Heat in tthe car; 2. Someone breaking in or merely opening the door and driving off; 3. The 8 year old pretending to be a Lakewood driver and rip down Clifton Avenue at break-neck speeds.
    Answer those. If not, get off my phone YBD!!!!

  50. Ok, I just have to put this out there. It doesn’t matter what the weather is that goes out outside. Whether it’s hot or cold, a parent should never leave children inside a car. Period! Even if you’re gone for a “minute”. Even if it’s freezing cold outside and you think the child can handle himself in the car. You never know when something can happen. A child should be watched all the time, especially when traveling with them.

  51. boruch Hashem the passerby had the good sense to contact the scoop right after she took the picture.
    everyone please remember: in case of danger contact the scoop first!

  56. Maybe
    1.Mother was watchin the children the whole time,
    2.Car was running with automatic starter (no keys in car)
    3.The older sibling was 12 years old
    4.Please try to se the other side of the story before you rant

  57. Common Sense says that it is dangerous and negligent to leave children in a car with the keys in the ignition. Also, the car can fill with fumes if the windows are closed. I once, at the age of 16, witnessed a car rolling down a long hill and through a gate. A 2 1/2 year old hopped into the car and put the car into drive. It was on top of a hill, so it just went rolling! BH, the injuries were not fatal, but he did go to the hospital. The father had left the keys in the ignition… “for a second” and run to get his wallet. It was one of the scariest moments of my young life. Are all you “Mind your own business; it’s okay” people really willing to risk your child’s life and a life for YOU of guilt and sorrow for a few minutes of convenience? I’ll bet you’re the same ones who don’t buckle in your kids, cut into traffic, make those quick, illegal lefts and “hughies, “don’t insist your kids wear helmets, and think it’s uncool to wear reflectors. Wake up and smell the coffee…or is that blood?

  58. IF the child WAS 12, it’s better. But why leave on the car? Open all the windows a bit and take the keys with you. Of course, I mean in not-hot weather. Remember, people are reacting to the theory that he was between 7-10. Therefore, those who said it’s okay, are, in my common sense opinion, wrong.

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