What happens to someone who drives a vehicle with a baby in someone's lap and not their car seat?

Question

Today at an outlet mall I saw a couple ladies get into an SUV next to us and the passenger was holding the baby in her lap. The baby was maybe 6 months old. Then to my surprise they backed out of the place they were parked at with the baby still in the passenger's lap and drove off! I got the license plate # and reported it to the police and then decided to see if I could find where they went to (hoping they just drove a little bit to another store) and I found that they had drove down past a couple dozen stores to JCpenney and I called back the police to let them know where they had gone to and the lady on the phone said the sheriff was almost there. I didn't stay around because I wasn't told to and I had my 2 year old son with me who needed a nap. I'm just curious if they would have just got a warning or what. It's scarey to think what else they do that could harm the child.

Answer 1

I would never not buckle my child up but I don't look to harshly on those who don't especially if it's just across to another store.  When we were little there was no such thing as child seats and we all turned out just fine!

They are prob. nice people and just don't realize that it can be extremely more dangerous for little ones then adults in a collision.

Answer 2

If they were found they probably just received a warning which will, unfortunately, not teach them anything.

Answer 3

It all depends upn the person who stopped them. Legally - in most states they can get a fine. But often, its not seen as a serious enough offense and they just get a warning it anything. It is serious, and good for you for calling. Accidents do happen in parking lots, shame on them! I've had an accident in a parking lot. Someone going too fast in a parking lot could hit them and that baby would likely not survive. Even across a parking lot, its not ok. Some people...