What age can I legally leave my son in car?

[Buckshot-73]

Man yall making me feel like a dead beat dad now for asking an age question.

How many worms are in that can you opened??

[tvc184]

What age do they have to be where I can leave them in the carseat within eye site to run in and pay for gas at a quickie mart?

The Penal Code says it is illegal for more than 5 minutes to "leave" a child under 7... and there is not at least a 14 year old in the car also.

It does not define "leave". Within eyesight to me is okay but who knows how another officer will react. I think the intent of the law is to keep a child out of danger and in sight complies in my opinion.

[texansfan]

Man yall making me feel like a irresponsible dad now for asking an age question.

The Penal Code says it is illegal for more than 5 minutes to "leave" a child under 7... and there is not at least a 14 year old in the car also.

It does not define "leave". Within eyesight to me is okay but who knows how another officer will react. I think the intent of the law is to keep a child out of danger and in sight complies in my opinion.

Leave the kid in the car
If/when the cop pulls up and even THINKS about looking in your window at your kid you jump out of line right fast and alert the cop "hey, yeah that's my kid, I'm just buying another 12 pack and some lottery tickets. I'll be right out."

The cop should be like "OK, sir. Have a good day!"

[tvc184]

The cop should be like "OK, sir. Have a good day!"

Yep, should be.

[Iehooligan11b]

Too many stories of cars being stolen with a kid still strapped in to ever take a chance.

This is what I would be afraid of. I wouldn't ever take the chance.

[999]

GALVESTON, Texas—　A man who stole a car left idling on the seawall returned and chastised the owners after realizing a child was inside, authorities said.

A Houston woman, 22, and her boyfriend took the child fishing with them early Tuesday in the 900 block of Seawall Boulevard, where a rock pier juts into the Gulf of Mexico, Galveston police said.

After taking all their equipment to the fishing spot, the woman decided the weather was too cold for her 2-year-old boy, Galveston police Capt. Jeff Heyse said.

"She went back to the car, seated the child inside and left the heater going, and then went to help her boyfriend with the fishing equipment," Heyse said.

The woman planned to leave the child in the car only long enough to retrieve the fishing equipment, Heyse said.

Police suspect a homeless man was watching the couple and saw an opportunity to take the car. Police described the suspect as a black man dressed in black clothing.

The man got in the car and drove off. The car went through the light at 10th and Seawall, then turned around and came back, Heyse said.

When the man got out of the gray Mitsubishi Eclipse, the woman asked, "what the hell are you doing?," Heyse said.

"The guy made comments about why would you leave your kid in the car," Heyse said.

The woman called police at 5:15 a.m. but the suspect had fled, escaping capture, Heyse said.

"At 5:15 in the morning, the seawall is empty, and it feels like a safe place," Heyse said.

The woman wasn’t cited for leaving her child unattended in the car.
This story was brought to you thanks to khou.com’s partnership with The Galveston County Daily News.

[Marco]

Wow.

[sharkhunter]

My son is 10yrs old and I don't leave him for a second. It's just to risky to leave them unattended.

[doghouse]

I can't imagine leaving a young kid in a car!!

[systemnt]

Think about you drive to a store... child is in back seat... you park at the door..full view of register...open your car door..exit your car..shut car door..enter store...pay for gas at aforementioned registet..exit store open car door..enter car..shut car door..leave store parking lot.
There ..you imagined it.

[tkuehn5410]

Too many stories of cars being stolen with a kid still strapped in to ever take a chance.

If kid gets stolen, that's a nono for thieves, and they abandon them within a couple blocks because of the rules.

[txwhitetail]

Here's your sign...

[Tex_Cattleman]

On the way to the deer lease...stopped at Pearsal HEB for a few things. Maybe 10 minutes inside. Left my 8 year old son and 3 year old lab in the truck, guarding everything. When I came out, one of Pearsal's finest was waiting for me. He said a lady had called it in fearing for the safety of my son. He lectured me on how many kids and pets die in locked cars. BTW, it was November and the windows were cracked. I learned a long time ago to say yes sir and not much else. Told us to go on, but never do it again. I restrained myself from telling the LEO that Nathan would be behind the wheel once we hit the dirt roads.

[x1jett]

What age do they have to be where I can leave them in the carseat within eye site to run in and pay for gas at a quickie mart?

I think the real issue here is that people are not required to take an IQ test prior to bringing children into the world.

Congratulations on your good fortune, and best of luck to your child.

[BowOnly81]

I think Car Seat would be a hint....

Exactly my thoughts! Mines 6 and 3 and they dont stay in the car without me unless it's turned off and keys in my pocket while I fill the tank. Even if it's to run in for a coke, they're coming with me. You wanna take that chance with your kids, go for it. I won't.