Support HB 2732

Unattended and Unsupervised Children In Motor Vehicle Safety Act

Passage of HB 2732 will save the lives of innocent children 

HB 2732 makes it unlawful to leave a child 8 years or younger unattended and unsupervised in a motor vehicle unless they are accompanied by another person 13 years of age or older.

Authorizes a fine of $25 for a first offense (an unclassified misdemeanor)

Authorizes a fine of at least $250; but not more than $500 for a second conviction within 3 years of a prior conviction (a class C misdemeanor)

A public education program will be developed to increase awareness about the dangers of leaving children and unsupervised in motor vehicles. Federal safety funds are available to pay for the education program

The bill does not preclude prosecution under child endangerment laws.

Why does Kansas need this law?

We know the problem

Hundreds of children have died or been injured in Kansas as a result of being left alone in motor vehicles.

• Children can suffer heatstroke: when the outside temperature is 80° F, the temperature inside a car receiving direct sunlight can reach 110º F after 5 minutes . Cracking the window does not alter the interior temperature.

• Children can be strangled by power windows

• Children can set the vehicle in motion

• Children can fall out of the car and be run over

• Children can be abducted or injured if the car is stolen

• Children can choke on a toy or become caught in seat belts or other items in the car

• Children can die from carbon monoxide poisoning

CDC reports that an estimated 9,160 nonfatal injuries and 78 fatal injuries occurred in children 14 and younger as a result of being left unattended in or around motor vehicles that were not in traffic from July 2000-June 2001

We have a solution or the answer:

HB 2732 will provide another tool to law enforcement officers when they come upon the scene where a child has been left alone in a vehicle. At the current time, the officer can either scold the parent, or take the children into custody and charge the parent with child neglect or endangerment.

Kansas citizens will be more likely to report children left alone, thus saving innocent lives.

Eleven states now have laws; federal regulations prohibit leaving children under age 10 alone in vehicles on federal military installations. In Kansas , childcare and foster care providers are prohibited from leaving the child alone via state regulations. In fact, Kansas already has a law making it illegal to leave an animal alone in any place without making provisions for its proper care.

In Kansas , the family pet is protected from being left unattended in vehicles by KSA 21-4310, which makes it unlawful to leaven an animal in any place without making provision s for its proper care.

It is time for Kansas to take effective, reasonable steps to prevent child injuries and deaths from this most preventable life safety risk.