Rhode Island Bill To Protect Children From Being Left In Cars Signed Into Law

PROVIDENCE, RI — A Rhode Island bill to protect children from being left in cars was signed into law.

The legislation was sponsored by state Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis, D-Coventry and West Greenwich, and state Rep. Matthew S. Dawson, D-East Providence.

Raptakis and Dawson worked with Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha’s office to craft the law, according to a media release.

The new law restores "law enforcement discretion, allowing officers to issue a verbal warning when appropriate or pursue misdemeanor or felony charges in more egregious cases where a child is left unattended in a motor vehicle," the release said.

“Leaving children unattended in a car can have serious consequences for the health and safety of the children," Raptakis said in the release.

"There is a serious danger of abduction and an even greater danger from excessive temperatures inside a car," Raptakis said. "Now, there are varying degrees in the severity of leaving a child alone in a car, and this bill allows law enforcement to determine if a warning will suffice, or if charges against the parent or guardian are warranted."

Dawson, a former prosecutor, said in the release that he "witnessed some truly tragic scenes where children were left unattended in a vehicle."

"In the most extreme circumstances when a child is injured or worse, charges are always warranted," Dawson said. "But there are cases where a warning from law enforcement should suffice with the hope that future emergencies will be prevented,” Dawson said.

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