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Recently I was charged in Hood RIver with Child neglect and endangerment after I parked outside my retail store (owner/oporator) to run in and grab my childs life vest, leaving her inside the car for less than 2 miutes, with the AC running because it was above 95 degrees outside. After researching the law, posting the experiece to my email families (more than 500 local families) the letters are coming in. How the Police have interpreted and are using this law in this way is of interest. (I found the police chief of Clackamas county stating a parent should think of the worst case scenario before making a decision" in an article written on the subject). I cannot find a single incident of a child secure in a car seat coming to harm after being left only momentarily while there are numerouse related to people being hit in cross walks. Since, I have learned of Free Range Kids, a topic of similar interest. The local dicsussion is highlighting the huge discrepancy between what the majority of reasonable parents consider as the apropriate responses to a situation and what police are interpreting and enforcing. It is a very important discussion to have among communities and within families. I would welcome the debate.

posted 1 year, 6 months ago
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