Sometimes it's hard to do the right thing.
I was parked at the pump waiting for the car in front of me to move it. I noticed it was a big, white Pontiac boat that held 5 children. Two in the front and three in the back. One boy kept opening up the door and running around. The female adult in charge came out looking harried. She got in and pulled away. All of the kiddos were standing. I didn't see any carseats. I scribbled the license plate on my brain and drove home to call the police. On the way I argued with myself. She is young, she is busy, she can't afford car seats, that is her only mode of transportation and it is about to be repossessed. BUT she is not above the law and I kept picturing all of those precious little ones flying through the windshield.
I made the call. Why don't I feel good about it?
12 comments:
Most of us have had a time or two where we've transported a kid without the legal carseat required for their age/weight...but in that instance one can still use a SEATBELT.
Your concerns for this busy young mom are probably valid. Five kids on the loose in the vehicle is a pretty big red flag; probably wasn't an isolated incident.
The police are there to exercise discretion. By calling, you may have set a boundary for her to remember before she goes for another drive with her kids all over the car. You did good.
I call quite frequently, when I witness stuff like this. There are programs for parents who can't afford car seats. There aren't really any excuses. Like KJ said, even when we don't have exactly what we need, "normal" people try to make the situation as safe as possible.
I have a sign in my car that says "KIDS NEED SEATBELTS." I have flashed it plenty of times. I am usually met with The Finger. In which case, I phone the police. There have been a couple times that the parent turned around and visibly made the kids buckle up. Those couple of times make me think my neurosis is worth it. Maybe that saved their lives. But...usually when I call the police they just say, "We'll have an officer check it out." but the people are off the highway before I see any glimpse of a squad car.
I have always been very uptight about it. I just don't see why someone wouldn't do what they could to protect their kids. It isn't hard!
This is really choppy and long...just want you to know you're not alone and I think you were 100% right in doing what you did. Maybe she isn't educated on what they need. More than likely, if the cops DID stop her, they gave her a warning and a good lesson learned.
You're a wonderful person, Carla! The safety of those five kids is far more important than the business or want of their mom - if she doesn't realize that, then they are very lucky that you did!!
You know what occurred to me when I read this?
She's a daycare provider.
Just a thought.
You did the right thing. Especially if people are paying her to take care of their kids...
My Dear Carla,
You meddled where you shouldn't have. When will you learn that it's to each his own, and that you are the problem. Well, you could have honked your horn at her and cursed her. That would have been fine.
Otherwise, next time ignore the matter.
Creepy...
I didn't know Satan blogged.
Satan,
You're not the boss of me!
Of course I am not the boss of you. I think you are the boss of you. No one knows better what is good for you than yourself, right?
Ooh, Satan is tricky!
Like butrfly garden said, there are programs for people to get carseats if they cannot afford them, as well as thrift stores and the like. There really isn't an excuse for doing it other than laziness. My mom is a dispatcher for the police in Las Vegas, and she gets sick to her stomach every time there is an accident with a child fatality. 8 out of 10 times its because the child didn't have a seatbelt and/or carseat, and my brother and sister in law don't use a booster seat for their TINY 6 year old. Yes, she is a "big girl", but she's barely 40 pounds, she would fly out of that car faster than you could blink.
Let her get a warning, would she rather lose one of her kids?
I sat in my car at Walmart one time, because the parents left their very young, very cute little girl alone in the car with it running and unlocked. Unbelievable. I sat there to keep her safe..when they came back out..I went up to the mom and told her I sat there watching over her, that the car was unlocked and I was very concerned for her daughter. She looked shocked, said thank you, and left. I hope I made a difference...we do what we do. Don't second guess. And Satan...get thee behind Carla. We don't listen to your voice around here.
I have often seen infant carseats in the front seat with an airbag. Gives me the creeps, next time, I'm calling. What are these people thinking? Ingorance of the law is no excuse.
Satan, I'm with Coffegirl on this one--Get thee behind Carla. And get out of her blog, too.
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