§ 21-1. Leaving children in vehicles unattended.

(a)

A person commits an offense if he, with criminal negligence, leaves a child in an unattended motor vehicle.

(b)

City police officers, fire department and emergency medical personnel are authorized to take such prudent action as may be required to relieve the threat of danger to a child regardless of possible damage to the vehicle in question. The policy shall be that the law enforcement officer shall make personal contact with any person receiving a citation hereunder.

(c)

For the purposes of this section, the term "child" shall mean any person whose apparent age is ten (10) years or less or who, because of physical or mental disability, is unable to avoid the hazards of being unattended.

(d)

For the purposes of this section, the term "unattended" shall mean in the absence of a person of at least sixteen (16) years of age in the vehicle or immediately adjacent thereto.

(Ord. No. 58799, § 1, 5-24-84)