People who leave their cars running running errands

[NsXMas]

The other day I noticed a lady leaving her SUV running with a 5 year old kid in the passenger seat. She was getting some food at a restaurant, and I said to her "it's not safe to leave your car running, your child may accidentally put your car into gear and get into an accident". The stupid woman just laughed and said "yeah, I know" and left the car running while waiting for her order inside the restaurant. Would be sad if someone stole the car while it was running. Idiot woman.

http://apnews.myway.com//article/20050129/D87TF8NG0.html

Jan 28, 9:26 PM (ET)


CRESSONA, Pa. (AP) - An auto mechanic used a customer's sport utility vehicle to run an errand, left it in a parking lot with the motor running, then mistakenly took another running vehicle and returned to the garage, police said.

Police said after they informed Michael Brown, 47, that he had taken the wrong vehicle, he returned it to the bank, where the customer's vehicle was still running and unlocked in the parking lot, police said.

Brown mistakenly got into a pickup truck owned by Brian McHale, who parked two spaces from Brown's customer's SUV. McHale also left his truck running as he went into a bank.

State trooper John Powis said Thursday that he was unsure whether charges would be filed against Brown.

Neither the garage nor Brown has a listed telephone number. A woman who answered the phone at McHale's address said the bank called police when McHale noticed his car was gone.

 

[4AU4LIFE]

Here locally, they do file charges if you leave it running while going in a business for 'just a minute'. I have also been told that they won't pursue a stolen vehicle report if they determine the same thing happened.

 

[whiteNSXs]

Here locally, they do file charges if you leave it running while going in a business for 'just a minute'. I have also been told that they won't pursue a stolen vehicle report if they determine the same thing happened.

People who leave the car running while running errands inside are stupid.
Steve

 

[newby]

I've cited a number of people who have left their vehicle running unattended. They complain and say "Who's going to steal this car?" They don't realize that if someone steals their car and hurts another in an accident or pursuit....the car owner can be held responcible....

stupidity is everywhere....

 

[Mr.Wolf]

Stupid people like this are putting professional car thieves out of business.

 

[Meeyatch1]

The lady with that SUV is a moron...thinking that there is any humor at all in the fact that her SUV could accidentally get in an accident with her child in the car is just plain sick!! People like that make me mad....

 

[ajnsx]

Japan, they also leave their cars running un-attended!

 

[NsXMas]

It happened again. Stupid mofo left his car running at a gas station.

When the hell will these morons learn not to keep their vehicles running unattended??

Truck chase ends on airport runways

(CNN) -- A man who led police on a freeway chase in Phoenix, Arizona, was apprehended Thursday after driving onto the runways at an airport and crashing a pickup truck through two fences, officials said.

Sgt. Randy Force of the Phoenix Police Department said officers shot at the suspect in two separate incidents during the chase, but the man was not hurt.

He was slightly injured when police vehicles hit the allegedly stolen truck to finally bring it to a stop, Force said, but is being treated and will soon be released to police custody.

The sergeant said the man will be booked "on a number of charges."

The incident began when a man who left his truck running at a gas station reported the vehicle stolen around 7:44 a.m., Force said.

Authorities spotted the truck and chased it before backing off the pursuit to avoid provoking the suspect into driving at high speed. A police helicopter monitored the action, Force said.

The driver kept mostly to the speed limit on the highways, but burst through a restricted area at the city's Sky Harbor airport and drove onto the runways.

"Airport operations were temporarily suspended in area where he was," said airport spokeswoman Debra Osteicher.

"Air traffic was stopped for a few minutes," said a statement from the airport.

At one point, the driver sped around a large jet standing on the runway.

Trying to leave the runway, the driver crashed the truck through one chain-link fence, but failed in an attempt to crash through another. Police cars closed in behind him to keep him from backing away.

Force said a police officer on a motorcycle was injured in a crash at the airport. The officer was being treated at a hospital and is expected to be released soon, he said.

 

[fannsx]

I have seen people sitting in the car in a parking lot waiting for 20- 30 minutes with the engine running, windows down. Why waste gas and increase pollution.
How many kids have died already in unattended vehicles thuis year! How sad!
Stupid people will always be stupid.

 

[ajnsx]

On the news today, a dimwit left his car running as he shopped in a seven/eleven (we got 'em in Japan). Returned outside to find his car had 'slipped' into reverse and into traffic. The driver noted that he couldn't remember if he had applied the handbrake(e-brake) or not. Rock on nightrider!

As scary as this is, everyday i see people holding children under 4 or 5 years old in the passengers' seat and on occasion in their lap whilst driving!
This in a land where rear seatbelt's aren't mandatory to be worn.

 

[ChrisK]

Just about 2 weeks ago our state finially used our Maile (Amber) Alert system for the first time because a women left her SUV running with her infant strapped in the back seat to run into 7/11. When she came out her car was gone. Fortunately, the alart system worked as someone found the car with the baby still inside. I guess the theif found the baby in the back seat and thought better of it and parked the car in a church parking lot and actually left the AC running for the baby. Still though, I would never do such a thing especially after how many reports (Even here locally) of infants who died in the car when their parents left or forgot them in the car. The next day when our news crew was shooting video for this story and the very same 7/11, a guy gets out of his car leaving his infant child strapped in the back. WTF? I think after the last baby died a few years ago our state finially passed a law making it a felony I think to leave a child in the car like that. It's about damn time. I take my son out of his seat and carry him even 10 feet to the ATM machine. It might be a PITA, but there is no way I'm leaving him in the car

To that lady that laughed when told it was dangerous to leave her car running with the child in it. Next time tell her/them its not a good thing to leave your car running with a child in the car like that because it make it too easy for me to steal your car and kidnap your kid. If she/they still laughs and walks away than nothing will penetrate their thick scull.

 

[THE4TH]

The other day I noticed a lady leaving her SUV running with a 5 year old kid in the passenger seat. She was getting some food at a restaurant, and I said to her "it's not safe to leave your car running, your child may accidentally put your car into gear and get into an accident". The stupid woman just laughed and said "yeah, I know" and left the car running while waiting for her order inside the restaurant. Would be sad if someone stole the car while it was running. Idiot woman.

Nevermind the accident, how about someone stealing the car with the child inside. That's a huge problem lately. On top of the chance of accident, pollution, and waste of gas, why on earth would you ever leave your five year old child unattended in a running vehicle in a popular area where anyone could wander into your vehicle and no one would notice. Horrible mother...

 

[Yawwn]

I agree with everyone here about the dangers of leaving the car running.

Luckily, I have a car alarm that allows me to do so without the dangers. I can press a button on the remote, then take out my key. The engine still runs. I open the door, and when I close it, the car chirps. If I don't press the arm button in a matter of a few seconds, it will automatically turn off the engine and arm itself. However, when I do press the button, it will lock the doors, and keep the engine running. It will then notify me on my remote every minute by beeping and vibrating, until I disarm and place the key back in the ignition. It really is handy for going in to pick up a pizza that I ordered over the phone, and coming back to the car within a minute or two. I don't have any kids, so none of the issues about being an irresponsible parent apply. Over time, I think for such short periods of getting in and out, it is probably better for the car that I don't turn it off and on if I have a feature such as this.

A thief can not steal the car, since it is armed. In addition, if someone were able to get in (say for instance, if the window was open and they jumped in Dukes of Hazzard style), they could not drive off in it, since the moment they stepped on the brake, the engine would shut off and the alarm would start blaring. The car can not be driven without the key.

It is quite funny to see the look on spectators' faces who see the car running, as I walk out of my car with the key in my hand and the car arming itself.

Take Care.

 

[paladin]

when i was a baby i accidently knocked my grandmothers mercedes into reverse and it started rolling down the parking lot. I sure got in trouble for that one....

 

[archangel0585]

I honestly hate when people do that. I saw a guy pull up to the store front today and hopped out. (he was in a drop BMW) he ran in and got a drink and ran out.... he should have got his car stolen.....


I dont wish it on anyone really ...but it's just iresponsable. I mean the threat of property damage if the car goes in gear. it's...dumb... thats all.

 

[WillErickson]

It happened again. Stupid mofo left his car running at a gas station.

When the hell will these morons learn not to keep their vehicles running unattended??

I saw this chase on CNN a few days ago, it was a Nissan Titan, simply insane...

 

[nuccaJB]

In downtown Chicago Mayor Daley had it set up so if people leave their cars parked in no parking zones in the downtown loop area they can get towed almost immediately. I always think that this is funny because so many people feel that they canbe above the law on things that they feel are "minor". I personally would never leave my kids alone in the car. I love them too much to put them in a situation like that.