Parents Not Using Car Seats

[Unregistered]

I just had a father pick up his 4 year old son and just put him in the back seat on the regular seat and put a regular seat belt on him. No car seat at all!

[playground1]

Unbelievable! We once had a "every-other-weekend" dad that refused to use one on the ground that it messed up the interior of his car. :confused: Can you report that?

[TheGoodLife]

I'd call the police- my DH's coworker did just that and had a cruiser stopping the car before it got a mile away! I saw it a lot when I would do safety patrol as a teacher

[craftymissbeth]

I agree. I'd call the non-emergency line and let them know.

[Second Home]

I can not remember the exact regs unless I look them up . But I know we are not supposed to let them take the child without the seat , at the same time you can not keep the child if they want to take them .

I had been told to either let them use one of mine ( did that once and never got it back ) or report the car / plate number to the police .

[Unregistered]

I didn't think to get his license plate number or notice the make or model of his car. I was just staring like a deer in the headlights and thinking " Oh my God, is he serious, he just sat him on the regular seat, no car seat at all" I was just repeating that to myself and it didn't occur to me to get any information about the car to report it to the police.

[TheGoodLife]

I didn't think to get his license plate number or notice the make or model of his car. I was just staring like a deer in the headlights and thinking " Oh my God, is he serious, he just sat him on the regular seat, no car seat at all" I was just repeating that to myself and it didn't occur to me to get any information about the car to report it to the police.

Does he normally pick up? I'd be ready for next time- have the police number ready in your cell, and hit send when he shuts the DCB's car door. Watch which direction and let them know the car make/color/plate #. So sad- could be such a tragedy due to irresponsible and lazy parenting

[Unregistered]

I don't typically watch the children get into cars. But I will try to notice if he does not use a car seat and call the police next time.

[Leigh]

Does your state's law require a 4 year old in a car seat? I'd check into that before reporting anything. It is STRONGLY recommended that kids stay in a booster until age 8, but your local laws may not require it. If the law doesn't state that the child must be in a seat, education of the parents may be all that you are able to do.

[TwinKristi]

In my state I would be mandated to report them to CPS. I had a dad do that once and told him if I saw it again he's getting reported to CPS because it's my liability when I know it happened.

[Unregistered]

Yes, by my state's law, the child should be in a car seat.

[Blackcat31]

In my state I would be mandated to report them to CPS. I had a dad do that once and told him if I saw it again he's getting reported to CPS because it's my liability when I know it happened.

Yes, this^^ as a mandated reporter YOU can be in trouble if something happened and someone could prove you were aware of it an didn't report it.

[Unregistered]

I just called my licensing supervisor. She said that yes, I should have called CPS, but that would most likely cause problems with the family and myself. And since it's already done, to just call the parents and tell them that I am not able to release the child to anyone without a car seat, so they have to make sure to have a car seat from now on or I won't be able to release the child to them.

[cheerfuldom]

I don't release kids if I see that the parent does not have a car seat. I have kept kids before and had parents go home or wherever and get the seat. A four year old would be required to be in a booster seat in my state. Learn your state laws, print them out for all parents with a reminder that you are a mandated reporter, should you see a parent choose to transport without a legal car seat option.

[Blackcat31]

I should have called CPS, but that would most likely cause problems with the family and myself.

....doesn't matter if it would cause issues with the family or not. It's something you agreed to do when you became a mandated reporter.

I would also use this situation to send home a reminder letter to parents about care seat safety and what their obligations are as well as what you are required by law to do if you are aware that a parent is not using a car seat.