So now we can't leave our kids in the car alone?!
Lily, welcome to the liquor store.
On July 1, it became a serious crime to leave your child alone in a car. State legislators felt they had to pass this law because of the 5 percent or so of parents out there in our state who have no common sense and should not be allowed to breed. Such as people who would leave a baby in a hot car while going to bet on horses in Pompano.
That's serious, stuff, I agree. Similar to placing a child in a microwave oven and hitting the "popcorn'' button.
Not sure if you read the story we had about this, when it became law.
The only time I leave my kids in the car alone is when I go the liquor store to buy beer. (How's that for a campaign slogan?)
I run in there for 5 minutes. I think it's fine. Especially since this liquor store was once held up by an armed robber.
I keep reading about how fast a car becomes a sauna when the windows are up, ![]()
so I leave a window slightly cracked. (Will this delay the sauna effect? The stories really haven't said. But I assume so.)
Now I have to worry about an officer quizzing my 5 year old to determine whether I've committed a traffic infraction (for leaving child 1 to 14 minutes), a misdemeanor of the second degree (15 minutes or more) or a felony of the third degree (child suffers permanent damage, other than loneliness).![]()
You could ask my daughter ANYTHING and she would say yes.
"Are you hot, little girl? Are your toes feeling numb? Have you been in here for four and a half hours?''
So I'll either have to take my chances at jail time, or introduce Lily to the tequila and whiskey.
Meanwhile, since the law only applies to kids younger than 6, I can leave my 12-year-old son, Creed, sweltering in the car while I go bet on horses in Pompano.
Thanks, Tallahassee.
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