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Reporting an Unattended Child in a Car to the Police

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  • 05-12-2016, 02:02 AM
    eorr45
    Reporting an Unattended Child in a Car to the Police
    My question involves criminal law for the state of: Pennsylvania.

    Hi all. I would like some input on a situation that occurred tonight. I was leaving a PA casino at around 2am, and upon heading to my car I noticed another vehicle with its interior lights turned on. Out of curiosity, I walked over to look at it. Upon looking inside I noticed a young child, probably about 2-3 years old, asleep under a blanket in the back seat. I waited around for a few minutes and there were no adults present.

    I didn't know what to do so I called the local police department. I gave them all the details (make, model, license plate) but I didn't stay around. To be completely honest, I had a drink about two hours prior, and although I know I wasn't anywhere near intoxicated, my severe anxiety kicked in (I have an anxiety disorder) and made me far too nervous to stay to fill out a formal report knowing that I had.

    Now that I'm home I feel guilty that I called the police and didn't wait around to make sure everything was alright. Can anyone with legal experience reassure me that I did the right thing? Did I overstep my boundaries? Or should I have done more? Did I do the right thing?
  • 05-12-2016, 06:18 AM
    free9man
    Re: Reporting an Unattended Child in a Car to the Police
    You did the right thing. The only thing more you could have done is stayed to help law enforcement create a timeline for how long the child was unattended in the car.
  • 05-12-2016, 10:42 AM
    adjusterjack
    Re: Reporting an Unattended Child in a Car to the Police
    Quote:

    Quoting eorr45
    View Post
    I have an anxiety disorder

    Then you shouldn't be drinking at all.

    And you certainly shouldn't be drinking when your car is out in the parking lot.
  • 05-14-2016, 09:19 PM
    Mercy&Grace
    Re: Reporting an Unattended Child in a Car to the Police
    If you take medication for your anxiety, the instructions should say not to drink while taking that medication.

    Sometimes the local new will have reports like this Unfortunately, there was one on our local news recently. The mother was in a store and not a casino. The child was returned to her after being checked by EMT's and she was given two tickets.
  • 05-16-2016, 06:03 AM
    Lettuce_Head
    Re: Reporting an Unattended Child in a Car to the Police
    Funny that the OP has a legitimate question and people want to complain about him having a drink. The guy is brand new to the forum, had an experience, Googled to find information, and was brought to this site. He asked a specific question that could have been answered with simple "yes" or "no", and some choose to jump down the guy's throat. OP, you did the right thing. For a law forum, this thread cracks me up. NO WHERE in the OP's post does it say he actually ingested anti-anxiety medication, yet 2 Senior Members took it upon themselves to ASSUME that he did and berate him for his choice to also have a drink. Details matter people. Just because someone has an anxiety disorder doesn't mean they are actively taking medication to manage it. Guess I just don't see how the OP having (or not having) a drink has any relevancy whatsoever to his actual question.
  • 05-17-2016, 11:41 AM
    qwaspolk69
    Re: Reporting an Unattended Child in a Car to the Police
    Quote:

    Quoting Lettuce_Head
    View Post
    Funny that the OP has a legitimate question and people want to complain about him having a drink. The guy is brand new to the forum, had an experience, Googled to find information, and was brought to this site. He asked a specific question that could have been answered with simple "yes" or "no", and some choose to jump down the guy's throat. OP, you did the right thing. For a law forum, this thread cracks me up. NO WHERE in the OP's post does it say he actually ingested anti-anxiety medication, yet 2 Senior Members took it upon themselves to ASSUME that he did and berate him for his choice to also have a drink. Details matter people. Just because someone has an anxiety disorder doesn't mean they are actively taking medication to manage it. Guess I just don't see how the OP having (or not having) a drink has any relevancy whatsoever to his actual question.

    If you read people did answer the OP. They just pointed out that if you have anxiety and if you take medication for it good idea not to drink. The OP mentioned the drink and anxiety as a reason to not wait for the cops so it is quite reasonable to point it out in a response.

    I did not see anyone "jump" down the OP's throat. On some threads yes - people get carried away. But not this one.
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