Mom Faces Trial For Leaving Child In Car

[Raejeanowl]

This is a case with a multiplicity of (possibly) extenuating circumstances, and I wonder if in this instance, police enforcement of the letter of the law wasn't aggressive beyond it's intent:

CHICAGO-Treffly Coyne was out of her car for just minutes and no more than 10 yards away.

But that was long and far enough to land her in court after a police officer spotted her sleeping 2-year-old daughter alone in the vehicle; Coyne had taken her two older daughters to pour $8.29 in coins into a Salvation Army kettle.

<<<snip>>>

On Dec. 8 Coyne decided to drive to Wal-Mart in the Chicago suburb of Crestwood so her children and a young friend could donate the coins they'd collected at her husband's office.

Even as she buckled 2-year-old Phoebe into the car, the girl was asleep. When Coyne arrived at the store, she found a spot to park in a loading zone...

"It's sleeting out, it's not pleasant, I don't want to disturb her, wake her up," Coyne said this week. "It was safer to leave her in the safety and warmth of an alarmed car than take her."

So Coyne switched on the emergency flashers, locked the car, activated the alarm, and walked the other children to the bell ringer.

She snapped a few pictures of the girls donating money and headed back to the car. But a community service officer blocked her way.

Full article:

http://www6.comcast.net/news/articles/national/2008/03/12/Mom.on.Trial/

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. And this child was in the car for how long?

I have a really hard time with parents who leave their kids in the car but this doesn't sound like the kid suffered at all.

[zanne]

2. I would definitely call that an abuse of authority...

I don't know why the authorities can't use their common sense sometimes. I hope this mother wins her case in court.

[crikkett]

4. It's overreaction again, but understandable, like the domestic abuse policies "after OJ"

too many children died in cars.

I remember what it's like to be left locked in a car as a child. I remember weighing the odds of whether my mother would notice I opened the window a little more than the crack that was left for me, so I could get more air. We lived in the tropics at the time.

But, I think I accidentally learned how to meditate.

I gotta leave this thread before I get bitter.

[Raejeanowl]

8. I'm Sorry

I have no idea what your situation was, but I'm glad for you that it's in the past.

:hug:

[LynneSin]

3. You have GOT to be fucking kidding me

Aren't there any crimes in the Chicago suburb?

It's great how they'll tear this family apart for something that personally I feel is NOT a crime. If the door was locked AND the alarm was on, I see no reason why they couldn't have walked out of the car for a few minutes to do what was basically CHARITY work.

:grr:

[crikkett]

6. Not really that many crimes in Ch. suburb. It's gentrified. And too many children have died in cars

which is why it is illegal.

[LynneSin]

7. Yes, you're right - too many children have died

BUT IT WAS SLEETING OUT and she put the blinkers on which, at least to us folks here in Delaware, means that someone stepped away but will be back in a few minutes. If she was gone from her car than less than 10 minutes (she says it was 8) then perhaps the police officer should have used better judgement.

Instead, this family could be ripped apart both financially and with the mother in jail for a year. Tell me who is being served with a punishment like that?

[elehhhhna]

10. Crestwood is far from "gentrified" & I'll bet the Mom is a minority.

I know my south suburbs and honey, it ain't as simple as it seems,

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. I think you need to study up again on your suburbs...

http://www.homes.com/Content/ListingSearchResults.cfm?City=CRESTWOOD&State=IL&Bedrooms=&FullBaths=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&PriceRange=&AmenitiesList=&PropType=%20&TotalRecs=94&MinSqFt=&MaxSqFt=&LotSize=&MinYear=&MaxYear=&Canada=0&OrderBy=price%3AD&FirstRec=1

Let's put it this way, my husband's cousin was looking for a job, got an offer, and didn't want to pay that much for housing. Housing in Crestwood is very high. "Chicago suburb" can mean suburbs that are located almost as far away from Chicago as Milwaukee.

http://www.simplyhired.com/a/local-jobs/city/l-Crestwood,+IL

http://www.idcide.com/citydata/il/crestwood.htm

92% of its population is white.

[elehhhhna]

12. I know. Housing all over Chgo"land" is very high. I still stand by the prediction that

the Mom is not a white woman.

[mondo joe]

13. Here's her photo.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/12/mom.on.trial.ap/

[mainegreen]

5. I think the judge will give the police a major beat-down on this one.

Her lawyer is right: not out of sight, not unattended.

[gollygee]

9. I agree - the child wasn't unattended if she was that close

I feel bad for this family, having to go through this.

[mondo joe]

14. By these ridiculous standards every child in the US has been "endangered".

Who hasn't left a sleeping child unattended so they could take a shower, or some other function of daily living?

Sleeping in a car for a minute, sleeping in bed for a minute.