Recently, I left my two sons in the car while I dashed into a local bakery. My younger son was peacefully asleep, and I didn’t want to risk waking him just to buy a loaf of bread—a task that would take only a minute. I cracked the windows, ran over, and made my purchase. My heart raced during that brief moment, not from fear of my children being snatched—they were merely twenty feet away, and I could see them the entire time. Nor was I concerned about overheating, as it was a cool day, and they were shaded by a large tree.
The real worry was the potential for being charged with child abuse or neglect. That fear was so overwhelming that I vowed never to do it again, even if it meant rousing a sleeping toddler for a thirty-second errand.
Fortunately, a recent ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court has shed light on this issue. Columnist and advocate for free-range parenting, Ella Katz, hailed the decision as “a beacon of hope.” In this case, a mother identified as J.L. left her toddler in the car on a mild 55-degree day while she quickly entered a Dollar Store. By the time she returned, security had already contacted the police, leading to a protracted legal ordeal spanning six years. The unanimous verdict means she will now have the opportunity to present her case, which had been previously dismissed. Moreover, the state will not automatically classify her, or other parents in similar situations, on the Child Abuse and Neglect Registry—a list that could severely impact their future job prospects.
This development is encouraging. Many parents, like Mia Carter, who faced arrest for leaving her child in a cool car for five minutes, have fallen victim to an escalating legal trend aimed at punishing parents for every minor misstep, even when the actual risk to the child is almost negligible.
It’s important to clarify that this discussion does not apply to those who leave their children in cars for extended periods or on hot days, which are indeed serious cases of neglect. As highlighted in a Salon article, these situations often involve tragic oversights, such as a parent forgetting their child in the backseat due to changes in routine. Such cases are undoubtedly tragic and stand in stark contrast to the scenario I’m addressing. As Katz notes, “Of the 30–40 children who die in hot cars each year, 80 percent were forgotten for hours or climbed in unobserved.” They were not left briefly in a vehicle while a parent ran an errand.
The New Jersey Supreme Court’s ruling aligns with the mother’s legal team’s argument that it is unrealistic to expect parents to provide a risk-free upbringing for their children. Parents naturally encounter risks while engaging in everyday activities, such as swimming with their kids or taking them for car rides. The recent overreach by law enforcement and legal systems is fostering an environment of unreasonable fear among parents. As law professor Mark Reynolds from the University of Florida noted, “There is no absolute authority on determining which risks are acceptable and which are not (we don’t prosecute parents for driving their kids around in cars, despite the greater dangers involved).”
It is unconscionable that responsible parents are ensnared in legal troubles for recognizing that leaving a child in a cool car for a few minutes poses minimal risk. Such a reality creates a pervasive anxiety that law enforcement may override parental judgment regarding child safety. As Reynolds states, “It’s easy to critique someone else’s parenting choices. However, it becomes deeply concerning when the state intervenes, using 911 calls and Child Protective Services as tools to intimidate parents.”
I’m relieved that J.L. has prevailed in her prolonged legal struggle, and I’m glad that Mia Carter received a lenient sentence of community service and parenting classes. Nevertheless, they should never have had to endure such stress in the first place. Reflecting on my own childhood in the 1970s, I often waited in the car for my mother, and it was a common practice. Today’s standards for “good parenting”—which emphasize constant supervision—are restricting both parents and children. We should be able to run a quick errand without fearing that someone will alert the authorities.
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Summary
The New Jersey Supreme Court’s ruling highlights the unreasonableness of penalizing parents for leaving their children in cool cars for a few minutes. The legal system’s overreach creates undue fear among parents, hindering their ability to make sound judgments about their children’s safety. Responsible parenting should not be overshadowed by fear of punitive action.