That's one small step toward over-reach, one giant leap toward totalitarianism.

So apparently an 11 year old child, who is old enough to stay home by herself (in the state of Wisconsin anyway) was not legally aloud to be in a car by herself? I sure hope that mom fights that. An 11 year old just might know how to open a car door if she gets too warm. She may even know how to go into a store and locate her mother, if necessary. All these laws that are supposedly created to keep children safe are only hurting them in the long run.

Some of these stories should really embarrass us. I guess some people just know better than anyone else. Just who do they think they are, Nancy Pelosi or what's his name, Obama? So under the legal definition of a child you can not leave your 17 year old in a car by himself, or would it be 20 year old? Maybe businesses should be required to post a sign in their parking areas specifying the age you can not leave someone in the car. It probably varies from parking lot to parking lot, how is anyone to know? I believe in protecting children but this is getting ridiculous.

How idiotic! I was bicycling "unattended" many blocks from my home when I was eleven. About a month ago, my stepson's 10-year-old girl flagged me down from as I walked toward the entrance of a Winn Dixie. She did so from inside my stepson's vehicle. I could barely see her hand wave through the tinted glass. Did not brother me. She was in complete control of the doors, being old enough. We had a nice chat. Then I had a nice chat with my stepson and his wife. Hopefully, Alabama does not have stupid Connecticut type cops that would have ruined that afternoon. At age 67, I've long been aware of a minority of crooked ones, though.

20 more days til you are FREE from CT...Yiiiipppeeee.... So excited for you & your family :-)

When my children are 11, I'm going to let them take the bus downtown. I probably won't do it in a town where I'm not plugged into the local gov't. That's sad. We've become paranoid about kids.

Astonishing. I leave my 15yr old all the time, now that she likes her iPad more than me. Maybe next year, when she has a driver's license, I'll get arrested for leaving a minor in the car...with the keys.

Hope you aren't fleeing to the PRMA!

it is not the law makers who you have to worry about but those who unfortunately decide that they should enforce them. they of course enforce them because it exposes them to power over others that they think will not fight back. these enforcers just do not know what common sense is.

yes

Oh, my. And what if the 11-year-old stayed home alone while the mother went shopping? Would that be a chargeable offense, too? Even if the windows are closed and the doors locked? With this kind of madness spreading, we will soon run out of places to move to.

11? She is practically old enough to DRIVE the car! 12 is still legal to drive a tractor in many states. Unless the child is severely mentally handicapped, this is stupid.

Eudaimonia, congrats on your move. Hope you're headed to warmer and liberty lovin' climate.
This story is just another reason to leave the NE part of this nation.