Nevada bill would set fines for unattended children

A Nevada Senate committee has approved a bill that could result in fines for parents and others who leave children unattended in vehicles.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday for SB17, imposing fines of up to $300 for people who leave children ages 7 and younger unattended in vehicles in conditions that endanger their health.

Instead of fining parents, judges could order defendants to complete educational programs on the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles.

"I am not judging whether they are good or bad parents," said Sen. Valerie Wiener, the bill's sponsor. "They may not even be aware how quickly they can endanger their children's lives. Let's stop it before it becomes life-threatening."

"I don't want to wait to the point where 12 more kids are dead," said Wiener, D-Las Vegas.

During the hearing, southern Nevada resident Jody Esposito testified that 12 children have died in Nevada and 438 nationally since 1990 after being left in vehicles. She said an average of 60 calls regarding unattended children in cars are made every month to 911 in Las Vegas.

Esposito said her 5-year-old son, Michael, died May 10, 2001, when he climbed into a car trunk while playing hide-and-seek.

"This bill is more about education than punishment," Esposito said. "I believe getting the bill passed will save lives of some children."