New Tennessee law?

thekatie

New member
I never heard anything about this, leading up to passage or after. I can't believe I missed it.

http://www.wkrn.com/story/25919042/...ave-the-lives-of-children-trapped-in-hot-cars

In TN, legislation was apparently passed to allow a law that lets passersby break into vehicles when there is a child locked in. But first they have to call the police, and then stay with the child until emergency responders arrive, and also leave a note on the windshield. My Google skills are failing (again) and I'm having trouble finding the actual text of the legislation.
 
ADS

Cath3114

New member
Not a fan. It should be left up to the emergency responders to remove the child

Edit for clarity - if there are clear signs the child is in distress, obviously the bystander should act. But is don't support it in an innocuous situation, like Mom ran in to pay for gas or whatever. Who gets to determine the danger level?
 
Last edited:

BookMama

Senior Community Member
Interesting. If I saw a child in distress in a hot car, it would never occur to me to wonder ( or care) whether it was legal to break a window to help the child. If it would help the child, I'd do it. (And honestly, knowing that I didn't have legal permission probably wouldn't stop me.)
 

katymyers

Active member
Interesting. If I saw a child in distress in a hot car, it would never occur to me to wonder ( or care) whether it was legal to break a window to help the child. If it would help the child, I'd do it. (And honestly, knowing that I didn't have legal permission probably wouldn't stop me.)
I wouldn't care if it was legal either, I'd probably try to open a door first but if the car was locked and an animal or a child were in distress I wouldn't hesitate to break a window.
 
I wouldn't care if it was legal either, I'd probably try to open a door first but if the car was locked and an animal or a child were in distress I wouldn't hesitate to break a window.

Yup. If it was a comfortably cool day and the car was parked outside the post office and the child was awake and happy? No, I wouldn't, but I would wait until the parent got back (which would likely be only a minute or two) just to make sure the little one didn't become distressed.

Infant or young child in a car in the Walmart parking lot alone? Or on a hot day somewhere? You bet I'm going to get that baby out of there. Law or no law.

I really think it's a case-by-case basis.
 

LISmama810

Admin - CPS Technician
I think the idea is specifically to shield the person from liability when the parent inevitably sues them for breaking their window. :rolleyes: Good Samaritan will still have to lawyer-up, but it should be easy after that.

Waiting for emergency personnel might not be an option if it's already been a while, the child is unresponsive, etc.
 

HEVY

New member
I think the idea is specifically to shield the person from liability when the parent inevitably sues them for breaking their window. :rolleyes: Good Samaritan will still have to lawyer-up, but it should be easy after that.

Waiting for emergency personnel might not be an option if it's already been a while, the child is unresponsive, etc.

:yeahthatsad:

IMO going in the post office/7-11/or Walmart are not much different. I have gone into the post office thinking it would be a min and turned out to be 20, same for 7-11 (though in here I can see the car), I have also been in and out of Walmart in less then 5. I don't agree with leaving a young child, maybe under 9, in a car alone for any period, unless you are outside within like 20 feet. But that's me, and it does depend on the maturity and experience of the child, maybe an 8 yr old can safely get out of a car and run to his parent. But I am also one to never leave a kid in the car, regardless of how many are with me, ages, or if they are sleeping.
 

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