What is the legal age for a child to stay in the car?

Answer 1

The fourteen states that have laws that prohibit leaving children unattended in an automobile include California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington. Most states have clauses in those laws specializing that the child must be in obvious danger or (in the case of Washington) depend on what type of establishment you are going into.

Penalties for leaving children alone range from noncriminal traffic infractions to second-degree manslaughter charges if the child dies as a result from being left alone in the car. Additionally, there is a wide age range of children that pertain to these laws.

Please note that even if a state does not have a specific law prohibiting adults from leaving children unattended, state and local prosecutors have the discretion to criminally charge adults under existing child endangerment laws if there is a significant threat to the child.

The reasoning behind most of these laws is that, children, who have smaller bodies, react faster to adverse conditions. Therefore, if a car is sweltering and they are unable to open the doors, then they are too young to save themselves.

Have your kid open the car door by themselves and you can leave them in the car while you shop.

Answer 2

my answer to this is if their under 5 it will always be illegal but when you atleast leave the a/c on it would no longer be illegal but never leave a child in a vehicle as they could sufficate or learn how to turn the keys so in anyway never leave a child in a vehicle

Answer 3

any age under a minute or in direct eyesight, over 6 for over a minute or out of sight

Answer 4

if they are old enough to be sold for cheese, they are old enough to be left in a car

Answer 5

7 yrs and older. Refer to "Kaitlyn's Law"

Answer 6

16 and up

Answer 7

13 teen