§ 568.052. — Leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle who causes an accident --first and second degree, penalties.


568.052. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean:

(1) "Collision", the act of a motor vehicle coming into contact with an object or a person;

(2) "Injury", physical harm to the body of a person;

(3) "Motor vehicle", any automobile, truck, truck-tractor, or any motor bus or motor-propelled vehicle not exclusively operated or driven on fixed rails or tracks;

(4) "Unattended", not accompanied by an individual fourteen years of age or older.

2. A person commits the crime of leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle in the first degree if such person knowingly leaves a child ten years of age or less unattended in a motor vehicle and such child fatally injures another person by causing a motor vehicle collision or by causing the motor vehicle to fatally injure a pedestrian. Such person shall be guilty of a class C felony.

3. A person commits the crime of leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle in the second degree if such person knowingly leaves a child ten years of age or less unattended in a motor vehicle and such child injures another person by causing a motor vehicle collision or by causing the motor vehicle to injure a pedestrian. Such person shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

(L. 2000 S.B. 757 & 602)