Councilman Wants Stiffer Penalties For 'Kaitlyn's Law'

LOS ANGELES -- A Los Angeles councilman wants to stiffen the penalty associated with "Kaitlyn's Law," which makes it a citable offense to leave children 6 and under unattended in a motor vehicle.

Greig Smith, who represents the northwest Valley area, will introduce a motion during an upcoming City Council meeting to create a city ordinance increasing the fine from $100 to $1,000.

"Leaving a child unattended in a car is absolutely unacceptable under any circumstances," he said Thursday. "But in the summer months when temperatures are regularly above 100 degrees, it is devastating to think what could happen to that child in a matter of mere minutes."

By some accounts, children can be in potential danger when left in closed-up vehicles when the temperature outside is as mild as 60 degrees.

Kaitlyn's Law, which went into effect in California in January 2002, was named for 6-month-old Kaitlyn Marie Russell, who died after being left in a van by her baby sitter.

Her mother, Tammy Russell, calls the state legislation Kaitlyn's "legacy."

"The day that they took Kaitlyn to the hospital and I was able to hold her for one last time, I made her a promise that I was going to do everything within my power to prevent this from happening again to another child and another family," she said.