How would you handle this?

[UnderTheStars]

I was in a parking lot today talking to my DH on my cell phone and a woman pulled in to the parking spot next to me. She had two kids in the backseat - one was maybe 6 months old? and she was forward-facing in a really, really old looking carseat. The other child could not have been older than 3, and he wasn't in any seat at all. I'm not even positive he had a seat belt on, unless it was a lap belt that I couldn't see. The mom looked *really* rough, so there was no way I was going to approach her or say anything to her directly, but I didn't know if there is a way to alert someone? I wrote down the license plate but I had no clue what our non-emergency police number is, I guess I should keep it on my phone. But do they even do anything in a situation like that? How would you handle it?

[jaelynsmommy61607]

You can call and report her to the police. Hopefully they'd show before she left. I honestly don't approach people because its not my place. And not everyone takes it so kindly.

[lilylouhoo]

I'd look up the non-emergancy number and call now or tomorrow. The seat is surely still installed like that and someone needs to do something. I assume they would go out to her house but I guess it depends where you live and how much "real" crime they have to deal with.

[igotmywings]

I would call the non emergency number. =)

[brigala]

I would, too. It just depends on where you live whether they'll do anything or not. In theory they *can* look up her license plate and find her.

I have heard that in Washington (I don't live there) there's a hotline you can call and they will mail a packet to the registered owner of the car on car seat safety and laws and where to go in order to get low cost car seats and that sort of thing. As far as I know it's the only state that has such a program. I can't seem to find the information on the program now, though... maybe it got funding cut or something.

[brigala]

Hmm. I am almost positive WA had a program like this, but all I can find is the Buckle Buddy program in Illinois.

http://www.bucklebuddy.org/online-reporting

It's like I said above - you can report a violation and a packet of information is sent out to the registered owner of the car. No citation can be issued of course unless an officer observes the infraction.

But it's possible that other states have things they can do, too, so yes I would call the non-emergency number. The worst they can do is tell you they can't do anything.

[smashncakes]

I've been in Illinois for years and I've never heard of the buckle buddy program--it looks awesome! I'd be putting in multiple license plate numbers each day, things are so bad around here I've called the non-emergency number for our town before and kinda try to follow the vehicle while I chat with the dispatcher...sometimes they get pulled over, most times they don't...the cops around here won't do anything unless they actually see the parents driving with kids improperly restrained, and usually it has to be WAY obvious, like a 3 year old standing up in the front seat or a bunch of kids bouncing around the back seat.

[UnderTheStars]

Originally Posted by brigala Hmm. I am almost positive WA had a program like this, but all I can find is the Buckle Buddy program in Illinois. http://www.bucklebuddy.org/online-reporting It's like I said above - you can report a violation and a packet of information is sent out to the registered owner of the car. No citation can be issued of course unless an officer observes the infraction. But it's possible that other states have things they can do, too, so yes I would call the non-emergency number. The worst they can do is tell you they can't do anything.

I'm in IL! That's awesome! Thank you.

[Kimmyann]

Here they don't do anything. Not being in a carseat is a 25 dollar ticket. I seriously doubt most police officers would know the difference if a baby should be rear or forward facing to begin with let alone know if the carseat was too old. The majority of the general population has NO IDEA that carseats expire and pass them down from generation to generation.

[Dmpmercury]

In my town they don't do anything unless it is in process. I called the ono emergency number once.