How Can a Parent These Days Put Their Child(ren) in a Car Without a Carseat?!?

QM · 07-12-2010, 08:57 PM

I just witnessed a dad driving his kids around the city with his kids in a car...a 6 year old girl in the front seat without a carseat and a 4 year old boy in the backseat without a carseat. (Ages are approx.) Even with a carseat, the front isn't the right place to put a child!

I followed the vehicle and thankfully the dad pulled over at some nearby townhouses. I pulled up beside him, rolled down my window and said, "I just have a concern that I needed to tell you. It is illegal to have children in a vehicle without a carseat." He didn't looked pleased, but said, "Thank you for your concern." Then I drove away.

How can parents do this? I just don't understand?! Not only is it illegal to put children in a vehicle without a carseat, it's 100% unsafe!

Maybe it's just me...

QM · 07-12-2010, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by QM

I just witnessed a dad driving his kids around the city with his kids in a car...

Haha!

I just noticed that I mixed up my wording...How else could you drive your kids are the city?

**mndtrp** · 07-12-2010, 09:58 PM

I can't imagine the uproar most people would have if someone took the time to follow a car, stop, and then tell them how to parent their own children.

**ravenmaniac** · 07-12-2010, 10:06 PM

At lest you were concerned and said something. People like that have total disregard for human life. I can not imagine what a wonderful parent he must be. I bet he is at all the parent teacher conferences. The dirty look he gave you was probably because he could not comprehend what you were saying.

QM · 07-12-2010, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by mndtrp

I can't imagine the uproar most people would have if someone took the time to follow a car, stop, and then tell them how to parent their own children.

I didn't tell him how to parent his child...I told him that it's illegal to put a child in a vehicle without a carseat. Believe it or not, I have every right as a citizen to follow the car, phone the police as to what is happening and report where the car is going. Those children were in danger. Had they been reported to the police, CAS (Children's Aid Society) would be on their doorstep investigating.

There is a reason it's illegal to put a child in a vehicle without a carseat.

Maybe next time I should be the citizen who says nothing and doesn't care and do nothing. (note sarcasm)

**mndtrp** · 07-12-2010, 10:34 PM

Do you honestly believe that what you did will make a change in how this person raises their children? I suppose you do have a right to contact someone to investigate this despicable form of human life, which if you were so concerned, you probably should have done.

I wasn't always buckled in, in a carseat, growing up, and my parents were nothing like what the posters above me are projecting. Good grief, I find it hard to imagine that you all are absolutely perfect parents, never doing something illegal, and certainly never putting anyone in harm's way.

Back to your outrage....

QM · 07-12-2010, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by mndtrp

Back to your outrage....

I am not outraged or angry. I am shocked that in the year 2010 a parent could place their child in a car without a carseat and not think that there could be some form of consequence such as their child flying through the front windshield or a fine and lost demerit points. We're not in the 70's anymore where you don't have to buckle up your child but put your arm in front of them to 'keep them safe'.

Originally Posted by mndtrp

Do you honestly believe that what you did will make a change in how this person raises their children? I suppose you do have a right to contact someone to investigate this despicable form of human life, which if you were so concerned, you probably should have done...

I don't know whether or not the parent will buy carseats for his children, but I do know that I spoke out on behalf of the children. I was about to phone the police, but the car pulled over into a townhouse area within 1/2 a minute of me starting to follow him. By the time the police would have arrived, there would be no evidence of this occurence.

Originally Posted by mndtrp

...I find it hard to imagine that you all are absolutely perfect parents, never doing something illegal, and certainly never putting anyone in harm's way...

Of course I'm not a perfect parent, and I'll never say that I am. But if somebody pointed out that I was doing something blatently illegal such as not using carseats (which is endangering my childen!), then yes I would like to know so that I could consider changing it.

Children can't speak out against this, but we can!

**ravenmaniac** · 07-12-2010, 11:01 PM

Well, I think everyone has a right to their opinion on the situation but, if I do not agree with what a person posts I usually do not comment, note I said usually. I have phoned the police when I have been following someone I suspected was drunk, this occurred once. It took a lot of courage to say something to this man, you do not know how he could have reacted. Maybe the next time he gets into the car with his children he will think twice and have them buckle up, maybe he will not have them buckle up. Who knows?

You feel you have done your part to help in your community. If more people did that, communities would be a lot nicer places. When my neighbors let me know if my kids were doing something wrong I did not take as a shot at my parenting. I realize this is a bit different. This situation could be a life or death one though. My son cutting through the neighbor's flower garden is not. We need to respect people's beliefs and their way of handling things, even if it is not the way you would handle them.

QM · 07-12-2010, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by ravenmaniac

...I have phoned the police when I have been following someone I suspected was drunk, this occurred once. It took a lot of courage to say something to this man, you do not know how he could have reacted...

Thanks, ravenmaniac, for saying that I had courage. I was a little afraid to say what I was going to say and his reaction to it, but I did it for his kids.

Your situation with following someone that you suspected was drunk and me following a man with his children unbuckled are very similar scenerios.

This situation once happened to me before when I noticed a car had about 8 people in it. Children on their moms (?) laps, no carseats and not enough spaces for all the people in the car. I took down their license plate and description of the car, went home and phoned the police. A police officer was the one who informed me what to do the next time this should happen.

Children need a voice...especially when it comes to their safety.

**Nana2two** · 07-13-2010, 01:06 AM

I have called police many of times for people driving all over the road, without a good reason. I have called the cops for seeing kids around 1 or 2 jumping around in the back seat of a car.I would rather call the police or say somthing to a person that is not thinking when they put there kids in the car like that,then to wake up the next morning and find out that person killed someone and that parent was in a accident and there child lay lifeless in the hospital.. We all make not so wise choices and just maybe you saying something to him made a bell go off.

**frugalfranny** · 07-13-2010, 01:47 AM

Originally Posted by mndtrp

I can't imagine the uproar most people would have if someone took the time to follow a car, stop, and then tell them how to parent their own children.

Parenting a child and FOLLOWING THE LAW are usually two different things!

**max915** · 07-13-2010, 08:02 AM

I myself totally freak out when I see a parent holding a child while they are driving...

**Inkstain82** · 07-13-2010, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by QM

I didn't tell him how to parent his child...I told him that it's illegal to put a child in a vehicle without a carseat. Believe it or not, I have every right as a citizen to follow the car, phone the police as to what is happening and report where the car is going. Those children were in danger. Had they been reported to the police, CAS (Children's Aid Society) would be on their doorstep investigating.

There is a reason it's illegal to put a child in a vehicle without a carseat.

Maybe next time I should be the citizen who says nothing and doesn't care and do nothing. (note sarcasm)

Having the right and being right are two different things.

In this specific case, I tend to agree with you, but I also know that there are tons of things that people are convinced are "PUTTING CHILDREN IN DANGER!!!" that are doing no such thing.

I know I look forward to a lifetime of concerned parents telling me how endangering I'm being when I do things like let my kid ride his bike to school in a small town.

**lparker** · 07-13-2010, 10:51 AM

Not putting this to anyone in particular, but you put a child in danger when you birth them. What all these child regulations do is keep the kids safe until they get into the military..........

That's all I ~~have~~ will say here on this subject.

**Libby** · 07-13-2010, 11:19 AM

QM - found this info online. It's not specific to say if its the front seat or back seat

Of course this info is for Ontario only.

Source: Frequently Asked Questions: Safety

When can a child start using a seatbelt alone?

A child can start using a seatbelt alone once any one of the following criteria is met:

* Child turns eight years old
* Child weighs 36 kg (80 lbs.)
* Child is 145 cm (57 ins. or 4 ft. 9 ins.) tall

As a guide, a seat belt may only be used if a child is able to sit with legs bent comfortably over the vehicle seat and with his or her back fully against the back of the vehicle seat. The shoulder belt must lie flat across the child's shoulder and chest, and should not cross over the child's neck. The lap portion of the belt should be positioned low over the hips, not the abdomen.

What is the penalty for non-compliance with the child car/booster seat laws?

Drivers who fail to secure or who improperly secure children may be charged, and if convicted, will be fined $110.00 and have two demerit points applied to their driving record.

Another concern I have are parents who smoke in the car with the children and infants with the windows rolled right up. What are they thinking?! Nothing against smokers but these are children who can't open their own window and don't know any better re: 2nd hand smoke health issues.

Originally Posted by lparker

Not putting this to anyone in particular, but you put a child in danger when you birth them. What all these child regulations do is keep the kids safe until they get into the military..........

That's all I ~~have~~ will say here on this subject.

Actually its when you conceive. When you give birth, the risks just come to life.