# Dumbass locks son in car, doesn't want window broken, blames police & firemen **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 25, 2006, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522 "2006-01-25T06:22:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/61 "2006-01-25T20:45:49Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Looking up the historical weather charts for Stamford, CT, it reached 89 degrees on the day in question. That’s all I need to know. Breaking the window was appropriate. But since when do the police/firemen need the owner’s permission to break the car window? If they deem it to be an emergency, they can park their fire truck\* on top \* of your Audi and you’d be shit out of luck. So I’m with them on breaking the window. I’m not sure about the arrest part. They overrode her decision to break the window. ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/62 "2006-01-25T21:44:31Z")
> [@Anne Neville](#): > > And her child should be taken away to be raised by someone more caring and civilized, such as wolves. I don’t think they’d [take him](http://www.theonion.com/content/node/43963). ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/63 "2006-01-25T22:00:34Z")
The fun part of all this is the ones who come in the next day and jump all over the first posters who did not have all the info that is now available and were just saying that “With the information available” etc. Bwahahahah This is the asshattery and dishonest actions that make threads like this such a riot. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/64 "2006-01-25T22:09:59Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Registered sex-offender crackwhore wolves. > [@flight](#): > > I don’t think they’d [take him](http://www.theonion.com/content/node/43963). I’m going to hell for laughing at those, aren’t I? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/65 "2006-01-25T22:14:05Z")
> [@LionelHutz405](#): > > Funny how the original news stories made no mention of the child being non-responsive. It’s only mentioned in someone’s blog. [Here’s an original news story that mentiones the child being non-responsive](http://www.allheadlinenews.com/cgi-bin/news/newsbrief.plx?id=2244959162&fa=1). The blog quotes the original story in the _Advocate_, which is no longer on their site or else I would have linked that one. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/66 "2006-01-25T22:20:09Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > The fun part of all this is the ones who come in the next day and jump all over the first posters who did not have all the info that is now available and were just saying that “With the information available” etc. Did something prevent them from using Google to look up the original story? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/67 "2006-01-25T22:46:42Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > The fun part of all this is the ones who come in the next day and jump all over the first posters who did not have all the info that is now available and were just saying that “With the information available” etc. > > Bwahahahah > > This is the asshattery and dishonest actions that make threads like this such a riot. Wow. I’ve never seen someone admit in such a humble way an explicit admission of error. Oh, wait a minute, there’s no humility there at all, and the admission of error doesn’t really exist, either. But I guess that’s my fault for not seeing this thread when it was posted in the dead of night, my time. Therefore, I sincerely apologize for not being awake to jump to the conclusion that a jackass mother is unfairly blaming cops for saving her child based upon the evidence that was available when the OP first appeared. I won’t do it again. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/68 "2006-01-26T07:02:10Z")
Well, you obviously have not read the thread. Bawahahaha [general aside] If someone post a link and makes a statement according to that link, I don’t see any need to go on an immediate hunt of the next round of incomplete information before I respond. Now, all you Google queens that do, good on you. But instead of sneers and slams, why don’t you start out with, “In this latest and more complete report, it no seems thus and so are what really happened and that this and the other are the incorrect info from the news media ( wow, who would a thunk ) so not it looks like to me that x is the real asshat instead of y.” But no, nasty is the name of the game. And I’m sure if you by accident came across information that made you positions wrong after a few days, you will reopen the thread to apologize and publicly change your position… yeah … right… Just admit it, you would rather play ‘one up man ship’ and use ever opportunity to be an asshat. [/general comment] ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/69 "2006-01-26T10:07:33Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > [general aside] > If someone post a link and makes a statement according to that link, I don’t see any need to go on an immediate hunt of the next round of incomplete information before I respond. Now, all you Google queens that do, good on you. But instead of sneers and slams, why don’t you start out with, “In this latest and more complete report, it no seems thus and so are what really happened and that this and the other are the incorrect info from the news media ( wow, who would a thunk ) so not it looks like to me that x is the real asshat instead of y.” Point is, there is no _new_ info. It’s all _old_ info that would have been found if people taken a minute to look for it instead of jumping in to blame the authorities. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/70 "2006-01-26T10:37:41Z")
'Course, it works both ways–someone defending the authorities could have done the same one minute search to solidify their position. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/71 "2006-01-26T17:33:09Z")
If my house ever catches fire and I have to call the fire brigade, after they’ve put it out I’ll make damn sure I sue them for getting all my stuff wet! Good pitting. BTW, if this was last July do we know the outcome of the lawsuit/charges? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/72 "2006-01-26T18:24:26Z")
> [@Dead Cat](#): > > BTW, if this was last July do we know the outcome of the lawsuit/charges? She was charged with reckless endangerment & risk of injury to a minor and released on $2500 bond. Her trial may still be pending, I can’t find any mention of it. ---
**Author:** ![Obsidian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/51bf81/32.png) [@Obsidian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obsidian)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/73 "2006-01-27T01:23:50Z")
My boss’s wife once accidentally locked her kids in the car on a summer day, in a situation exactly like **Green Bean** ’s. Having also locked her cell phone in the car, she flagged down a passerby and asked them to call 911 for her. The passerby pulled over, and put her on the line with the 911 dispatcher. My boss’s wife wanted to break a window herself (it was very hot that day), but the dispatcher told them police were only a few blocks away and to wait if at all possible. Police arrive, pop the lock without breaking the window (it was a older Ford), kids are just fine. Some woman on the street comes up to my boss’s wife and says “They’re going to call DYFS and take your kids away. You’ll be arrested for child abuse.” Boss’s wife is very upset, so she asks the cop who popped the door, and he says, “Ma’am, believe it or not, this happens all the time. It pretty obvious when it’s just an accident.” ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/74 "2006-01-27T01:53:20Z")
> [@Obsidian](#): > > Police arrive, pop the lock without breaking the window (it was a older Ford), kids are just fine. Some woman on the street comes up to my boss’s wife and says “They’re going to call DYFS and take your kids away. You’ll be arrested for child abuse.” > > Boss’s wife is very upset, so she asks the cop who popped the door, and he says, “Ma’am, believe it or not, this happens all the time. It pretty obvious when it’s just an accident.” Heh. Cop should have arrested the busybody for creating a public nuisance. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/75 "2006-01-27T05:01:36Z")
When I was 5 I had a Buddy doll about the size of a 2 year old. One day my mother took me out to eat and I put it in my carseat when we went inside. Someone called the police to report an unconscious child locked in a car (it was summer). The police and paramedics showed up and broke into the car. While they were doing this another cop came inside and tried to arrest my mother. I think the city ended paying for her window. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/76 "2006-01-27T12:29:01Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > When I was 5 I had a Buddy doll about the size of a 2 year old. One day my mother took me out to eat and I put it in my carseat when we went inside. Someone called the police to report an unconscious child locked in a car (it was summer). The police and paramedics showed up and broke into the car. While they were doing this another cop came inside and tried to arrest my mother. I think the city ended paying for her window. Wow, I guess that shows how different it can be from one town to another. I hope she got a public apology as well. Why wouldn’t the cop just say “I need you to come outside, there’s a problem with your car” That must have been some realistic looking doll if people couldn’t tell by a close look. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/77 "2006-01-27T19:38:35Z")
Such a thing has happened before, [here](http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/11/22/doll_mistaken_for_infant_left_in_car?mode=PF) is a similar story. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/78 "2006-01-27T20:01:48Z")
From the original report, even without knowing that it was a hot day or that the child was unresponsive, I say that the woman was in the wrong. If her sitatuation was not an emergency, she shouldn’t have dialed 911. She should have called a locksmith. If you screw up and lock your kid in the car, you don’t try to save a buck by asking the police force to babysit while you catch a ride home to get your keys. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Swan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/79 "2006-01-27T22:45:05Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Looking up the historical weather charts for Stamford, CT, What site do you use to find such a resource? I’ve been looking for one, but not too terribly hard. If you tell me [weather.com](http://weather.com), I promise to slink away in embarrassment. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522/80 "2006-01-27T23:37:09Z")
I find it amusing that some of the first posters here will berate the police and make contrived circumstances that are almost rediculous in themselves to explain why the mother was in the right rather than acknowledging that the vast majority of emergency responders are likely to choose the most appropriate course of action. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbass-locks-son-in-car-doesnt-want-window-broken-blames-police-firemen/341522.md?page=5)