Reported a driver,cop only gave a warning

Cattitude

New member
So DH, DS and I were driving to go to a local amusement park here the other day and there was a lot of traffic on the street just before the entrance which is typical. They usually have several county police officers stationed along the street to help things along if the traffic gets too out of control.

So as we're puttering along I look to the side of me and can see down into the car next to me. There is 2 adults in the front, a baby in the back in a seat, and an adult in the back with a baby on her LAP and another older infant sitting right next to her sans seat :(. I occasionally see older kids hopping into cars with no seats but with no good opportunity to do anything about it. But now I looked at DH and said "I'm telling one of these cops". So I did. The officer did stop the car and talk to the driver but that's it, no ticket because he didn't stop them long enough for that to have been done.

I'm not some awful person that wants anyone to get a ticket but I honestly think that may be the only way to drive the point home. Who drives with loose babies in the car? I felt so sad thinking what could happen even with a simple slamming of the brakes. UGH. It's just infuriating.
 
ADS

MommaWhitney

New member
In the cops defense he may need a moving violation before issuing a ticket. Just depends on your law. In my state misuse is a secondary meaning they have to have a moving violation before even pulling you over. Non use is primary though meaning they dont need any reason but that to issue a ticket. But your state may be different.

Good for you for telling though!!!

Sent from my iPhone using Car-Seat.Org
 

Kat_Momof3

New member
a warning is better than the cop blowing it off... and with the sound of it, the car being a 5-passenger vehicle and there being 6 passengers, it may have been exempt from the usual restrictions (at least for the baby in the lap)
 

Kac

Ambassador - CPS Technician
He probably could not ticket because that is typically a secondary offense (depending on the state).
 

Cattitude

New member
I didn't think about it being a secondary offense. I'm in NY and not sure if it's secondary or not because I do the right thing of course!!!
 

Ladyl

New member
Seat belt (and car seat) laws in New York are primary offenses. I'm in NY too.

ETA: I suppose it could fall under the too many people so lets just disregard common sense clause though.:rolleyes:
 

turtlemama

New member
I saw children left in the car alone today, no seats. They were probably around 5-7 years old. It was at a gas station so I guess the mom thought it wouldn't hurt to leave them for a few minutes, BUT they were leaning out the windows yelling at strangers walking by! I texted the tip line for our local police but I doubt they got there in time to do anything. Our state is a primary cause law state so she could have gotten a ticket for no seats at least.
 

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