GEICO Reminds Maryland Drivers of Unattended Child Law

WASHINGTON--Despite the rush of the holiday season, it’s never a good idea to leave a child unattended in a vehicle. And GEICO reminds Maryland drivers it’s illegal. If a child under eight years old is left in a vehicle without proper supervision, it could result in a $500 fine for each child and a mandatory court appearance.

"Leaving children alone in vehicles can create a dangerous situation," said Nancy Pierce, GEICO regional vice president. “In extremely cold conditions, frostbite and hypothermia could be life threatening. What’s more, children might wander off, become lost, hurt or even kidnapped. We want to remind all parents and caretakers about these dangers before winter arrives.”

Denyse Fredrikkson, ombudsperson for Maryland’s Child Welfare Services, said, “We saw an increase in calls around the winter holidays last year, and we heard from many parents who were not familiar with this law. We want to make people aware of the law and about the dangers of leaving children alone in vehicles.”

Fredrikkson continued, “It is unsafe and unhealthy to leave young children unattended in vehicles because they can be physically harmed by weather conditions, jeopardize their own safety by leaving the car, or put the car in gear and have it roll away.”

Maryland child welfare officials estimate they receive an average of 20 to 40 reports a month for children left alone in vehicles.

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the fourth-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States. It provides auto insurance coverage for more than 7 million policyholders and insures more than 12 million vehicles. GEICO, a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, is rated A++ for financial stability by A.M. Best Company. GEICO keeps its rates low by dealing directly with the customer. GEICO provides consumers with outstanding sales, service and claims capabilities on its geico.com Web site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Consumers may also contact the company at its toll free 1-800-841-3000 number. 15 minutes could save you 15% on car insurance. For more information, go to www.geico.com.