New California law legalizes breaking into a car to save a child's life

[mahatmakanejeeves]

New California law legalizes breaking into a car to save a child's life

BY ZACK BUDRYK - 01/01/21 11:52 AM EST

A new California law taking effect Friday will legalize breaking into a locked car to rescue a child. ... Under existing law, Californians who took such actions could be subject to criminal liability or property damage lawsuits, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Assemblyman Ed Chau (D), who wrote the law, cited the national average of 40 deaths a year from heatstroke among children left in unattended cars. ... “In California, for 2018 and 2019, there were six children who died after being left in a hot car,” he said. “That’s six children too many. Those are innocent and precious lives that could have been saved.”

The law lays out specific parameters for when breaking into a vehicle is allowed, granting immunity “to any person who rescues a child from a vehicle, so long as the rescuer reasonably believes that the child is in danger, does no more damage to the vehicle than is necessary, contacts law enforcement or emergency personnel [first], and waits with the child until police officers or emergency personnel arrive on the scene.”

While Chau said he was not aware of any cases where someone was held civilly liable for breaking into a car to save a child, he found at least one instance of a man being sued after pulling an injured person from a vehicle.

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[applegrove]

1. My grandmother did that in the 1940s or 50s in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.

She was in town with my aunt. She saw a child panting in a car on a summers day. She could not get into the car so she picked up a rock and smashed her way in. She saved the child, made sure they were okay (she was a nurse) and then went looking for the parents.

[GemDigger]

2. I wouldn't think twice on whether or not it was illegal.

Step 1 Bust window
Step 2 Tend to child while 911 ringing on the phone.
Step 3 Worry about the consequences