Guardian Suspected of Leaving Kids in Car Issued Citation

The person suspected of being responsible for leaving two young kids in a Danville parking lot on Sunday afternoon was issued a citation, Police Chief Steve Simpkins said.

Danville police received a call at 2:27 p.m. telling them two kids who appeared to be under the age five were alone in a parked car in the Tassajara Crossing Shopping Center.

Officers arrived on scene at about 2:35 p.m. and issued a citation to the person responsible. Information on the relation between the kids and the suspect was not immediately available.

Simpkins said officers weigh a number of factors when deciding to make an arrest when children are left in a car, including the age of the kids, the temperature outside, if the window were cracked and how long they were alone.

In this case, the officers issued the citation under California Vehicle Code 10562, which states:

A parent, legal guardian, or other person responsible for a child who is 6 years of age or younger may not leave that child inside a motor vehicle without being subject to the supervision of a person who is 12 years of age or older.

Click this link to read the entire code.