Anyone who leaves a child under six years of age unattended in any type of motor vehicle would be charged with a disorderly persons offense and subject to fines ranging from $100 to $500 for a first offense and there would be separate offenses for each child left unattended under a measure sponsored by Assembly Democrats Bruce Land and Matt Milam (Both D-Cape May, Atlantic, Cumberland). The bill was approved Monday by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee. The Assemblymen issued the following statements today:
Assemblyman Bruce Land: “Even when a child is left alone in a car for a short time, the youngster is in danger of abduction, dehydration, injury, and death. We must make sure that people are deterred from ever leaving a child unattended in a car. Monetary penalties could act as the deterrent; however I hope this bill raises awareness and no one is fined because no one leaves a child alone in a car.”
Assemblyman Matt Milam: “I was shocked and saddened to learn that in the United States between 1998 and 2016, 683 children died from heat stroke after being left unattended in a hot car. Twelve of those kids were from right here in New Jersey. Summer is right around the corner and, with this bill we’re trying to send a message: Anyone who leaves their child alone in a car is risking that child’s life. Don’t do it!”
I hate it when the government profits on personal tragedy. There is zero benefit to ticketing. If it was done on purpose child services is contacted and if not the person has to live with it for the rest of their life.
what a dumb law. very few people do it on purpose. instead they should try to brainstorm how to keep it from happening by mistake
Leaving a child in a car while you run into a store is on purpose
At least they should use the money to outfit the cars with safety reminder systems. It can be donated to hospitals and gifted to parents when they leave with a newborn.
Their should be a car seat developed with a loud buzzer going off if a child is left inside
And the state should subsidize or give a tax credit for parents to purchase them this would minimize these tragedies
Not fines
sick do you think someone would do it on pupose most people love their children its a tragedy stick your nose out of this
it amazes me that we have space ships going out to orbit and all these high-tech kind of things but we can’t make a little device to put in the car I saw someone make a device that works on a laser beam when you open the door it says good morning don’t forget your child in the car I don’t know if it’s up for sale I saw a video of it in Israel but something like that is very much needed
it amazes me that people need reminders to take care of their children ,….. we dont need laser beams or buzzers . we need people to slow down and protect their children
I’m amazed that any parent needs a reminder that their child is strapped into the back seat of their car. Just unbelievable !!!
I don’t understand they have safety features ringing if you don’t buckle up and if you leave your lights on or keys in the car- why can’t the same feature ring if it feels weight on the seat or seatbelt buckled or something…. we have solutions for all silly things gov should mandate child reminders in cars which honk horn and automatically open the locks or something. No body wants this to happen it’s a parents nightmare! Help prevent this tragedy with something concrete not silly fines that don’t help a mind slip.
It’s the car makers can put in a device, that reminds the driver when shutting the car, achild, or pet is in the back
Seat belts save lives
Air bags saves lives.
Back up camera saves lives
Reminder devices will save lives!
We don’t need government to fine parents.
We need government to get auto makers to install this technology!!!
So now that ppl will be scared to get a fine they won’t forget their children in the car???
Not sure i understand the logic!
Do you know what would help, so no one would ever forget their precious child in the back seat ??? Throw your cell phones in the back seat. No one ever leaves their cell phones behind !!!!
Government fines are useless !!
Make it a practice to check the back of car every time you arrive somewhere. It’s a simple glance.
I think y’all are interpreting this incorrectly. The fine is not for those that G-d forbid forget that their child is in the car. It is against those who intentionally leave their kids alone in the car – “just for a second”…