No charges for woman who left child alone in car, Vancouver police say

A woman who left her toddler unattended in the backseat of a car with all the windows down while she mailed packages at a Vancouver post office Tuesday will not face charges.

Witnesses tell KOIN they noticed the child in danger and called 911 around 11:00 a.m.

Michelle Bart, who works on an advisory committee for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, said she pulled up next to the Suzuki SUV and noticed a little boy with a messy face in the backseat.　

Bart says another woman on a cell phone nearby told her she had just called 911 to report the situation. However, after waiting several minutes, Bart called 911 again.

"All the windows in the front and back were down. I could have touched the child," Bart said.　

Shortly after, Vancouver police officers arrived. Bart said the mother came outside and said, "I didn’t think I would be that long."

Vancouver Police Department (VPD) spokeswoman Kim Kapp said there was no criminal citation issued because there is no statute about leaving a child unattended with the engine off.

Bart said she was most upset by the fact that it was not illegal.

"Someone needs to be held accountable," said Bart. "Next time will she be so lucky?"

Kapp said the woman told police she parked her car where she could see it from inside the post office and was only inside for 10 minutes. However, witnesses say it was at least 20 minutes.

Police said this is concerning because the windows were down and the child could have been taken.

According to Washington law:

"It is unlawful for any person, while operating or in charge of a vehicle, to park or willfully allow such vehicle to stand upon a public highway or in a public place with its motor running, leaving a minor child or children under the age of sixteen years unattended in the vehicle. Any person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. Upon a second or subsequent conviction for a violation of this section, the department shall revoke the operator's license of such person."

In Oregon, there are no laws regarding the issue of leaving a child unattended in a car.

Source: http://www.koinlocal6.com