Do child left in a parked car rules differ by state?

Yes. Age, minutes, and who must stay with the child where you parked Crosstatelaws maps all 50 states for travelers who are physically in that state — not for what a state requires of its own plates or licenses.

Does child left in a parked car apply if my vehicle is registered in another state?

Operate-here rules (speed, helmets, possession, inspections you must stop for) follow the state you are in. Registration-state rules such as a front license plate do not. Read the layer notes on the map.

Where can I see a child left in a parked car map?

Open the Crosstatelaws interactive map with this layer soloed: https://crosstatelaws.com/?solo=unattended_child

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Child left in a parked car laws by state

People search “Child left in a parked car by state”, “Child left in a parked car laws by state”, and “Child in car map” when a road trip, boat, bike, or load is about to cross a line. This page is the 50-state index for child left in a parked car. Colors and quotes are written for someone in that state today, not for what that state demands of its own registered vehicles.

Open the Child in car difference map

How states differ

Age, minutes, and who must stay with the child where you parked.

Named statute with a published age and/or minute clock
Named statute — age/risk/engine rules, no simple minute clock
Narrow named rule (childcare-only, injury-only, or warning-only)
No named vehicle statute — still chargeable as endangerment / neglect

Searches this page is meant to answer

If you typed any of these — or a close variant with a state name — this is the Crosstatelaws topic that should show up:

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Florida leave child in car 15 minutes
Texas leave child in car 5 minutes
Child left in a parked car in California / Texas / Florida / New York
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All 50 states

One-line traveler summary for each state. Open the map for the quoted rule and footnotes.

Alabama (AL): Alabama: Amiyah White Act — named vehicle rule is for paid child-care / day-care, not a general parent minute-clock. Under 7. Unreasonable risk. Fine from $2,000; injury or death escalates.
Alaska (AK): Alaska: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Arizona (AZ): Arizona: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Arkansas (AR): Arkansas: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
California (CA): California (Kaitlyn’s Law): child 6 or younger may not be left without a supervisor who is 12+, if there is a significant safety risk or the engine is running / keys are in the ignition. Infraction $100; injury can be charged as more.
Colorado (CO): Colorado: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Connecticut (CT): Connecticut: child under 12 left unsupervised in a motor vehicle (or public place) for a time that presents a substantial risk — Class A misdemeanor. Night (8 p.m.–6 a.m.) is a Class C felony. Alcohol premises is a Class D felony.
Delaware (DE): Delaware: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Florida (FL): Florida: child younger than 6 — more than 15 minutes is a 2nd-degree misdemeanor. Any time is illegal if the engine is running, the child’s health is in danger, or the child is in distress ($50–$500). Harm can be a 3rd-degree felony. Officers may break in.
Georgia (GA): Georgia: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Hawaii (HI): Hawaii: child under 9 left 5 minutes or longer — alone or with anyone under 12 — is a violation. Applies to the driver or an adult passenger, not only the parent. Officers/firefighters may break in.
Idaho (ID): Idaho: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Illinois (IL): Illinois: a child 6 or younger left in a vehicle more than 10 minutes may be treated as unattended (not with a person 14+, or out of that person’s sight). Child endangerment is a Class A misdemeanor; a second case or a death is a Class 3 felony.
Indiana (IN): Indiana: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Iowa (IA): Iowa: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Kansas (KS): Kansas: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Kentucky (KY): Kentucky: the named vehicle language is in manslaughter 2nd — leaving a child under 8 in a vehicle under circumstances showing extreme indifference, when the child dies. Class C felony. Living children are still charged under ordinary endangerment.
Louisiana (LA): Louisiana: child under 6 may not be left unattended and unsupervised. Unattended = driver more than 10 feet away and unable to watch continuously. Unsupervised = no person 10+ in the vehicle. Officers shall remove a child left over 10 minutes. Fine up to $500 / 6 months.
Maine (ME): Maine: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Maryland (MD): Maryland: a child under 8 may not be locked or confined in a vehicle (or building) while you are absent and out of sight, unless a reliable person at least 13 stays with the child. Misdemeanor: up to $500 and/or 30 days.
Massachusetts (MA): Massachusetts: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Michigan (MI): Michigan: a child under 6 may not be left unattended (alone or without a supervisor 13+) for a time or in circumstances that pose an unreasonable risk. Misdemeanor up to 93 days / $500; harm or death becomes a 1-year misdemeanor or a felony (up to 15 years if the child dies).
Minnesota (MN): Minnesota: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Mississippi (MS): Mississippi: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Missouri (MO): Missouri: the named vehicle statute is about a child under 11 left unattended (no one 14+) who then causes a crash that injures or kills someone else. It is not a hot-car minute clock. Ordinary endangerment still covers a child left in heat.
Montana (MT): Montana: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Nebraska (NE): Nebraska: leaving a child 6 or younger unattended in a motor vehicle is listed as child abuse or neglect under the Child Protection and Family Safety Act. No published minute clock. DHHS / law enforcement can treat it as a child-protection case.
Nevada (NV): Nevada: child 7 or younger may not be left if conditions are a significant risk or the engine is running / keys are in the ignition, unless a person 12+ is supervising and in sight. Misdemeanor; court can dismiss after an education class. Forgotten-lock exception.
New Hampshire (NH): New Hampshire: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
New Jersey (NJ): New Jersey: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
New Mexico (NM): New Mexico: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
New York (NY): New York: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
North Carolina (NC): North Carolina: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
North Dakota (ND): North Dakota: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Ohio (OH): Ohio: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Oklahoma (OK): Oklahoma (Forget-Me-Not Act): child 6 or younger (or a vulnerable adult) may not be left unattended if weather, ventilation, or vehicle hazards present a risk, unless someone 12+ is in the vehicle. Misdemeanor $50 / $100+community service / $200; $500 if you were drinking on licensed premises.
Oregon (OR): Oregon: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Pennsylvania (PA): Pennsylvania: a child under 6 may not be left unattended in a vehicle out of your sight under circumstances that endanger health, safety, or welfare. Applies to highways and parking lots. Summary offense — one count per child.
Rhode Island (RI): Rhode Island: officers may give a verbal warning if a child under 7 is left unattended. No fine, no record. Endangerment or worse still applies if the child is actually at risk.
South Carolina (SC): South Carolina: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
South Dakota (SD): South Dakota: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Tennessee (TN): Tennessee: child younger than 7, on public or publicly frequented property, without a supervisor 13+, if there is a health/safety risk, the engine is running, or the keys are in the cabin. Class B misdemeanor: $200 first / $500 later.
Texas (TX): Texas: child younger than 7 left longer than 5 minutes without a person 14+ in the vehicle is a Class C misdemeanor. Endangerment still applies in heat even under 5 minutes or for older kids.
Utah (UT): Utah: child younger than 9 left in an enclosed vehicle on public or publicly open property, without a supervisor at least 9, if conditions risk hyperthermia, hypothermia, or dehydration. Class C misdemeanor. Preempts stricter local ordinances.
Vermont (VT): Vermont: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Virginia (VA): Virginia: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Washington (WA): Washington: two named rules — (1) child under 16 left in a standing vehicle with the motor running on a public highway or public place is a misdemeanor (license revocation on a second). (2) child under 12 left in a parked car while you go into a tavern is a gross misdemeanor.
West Virginia (WV): West Virginia: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.
Wisconsin (WI): Wisconsin: the named vehicle statute is for child-care vans — a child-care provider may not leave a child unattended in a child-care vehicle. Class A misdemeanor; harm or death is a felony. Parents in a grocery lot are under ordinary endangerment, not this section.
Wyoming (WY): Wyoming: no standalone “unattended child in a vehicle” statute with a published age or minute clock. Leaving a child in a car can still be charged as child endangerment, neglect, or worse if the child is at risk.

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Pet left in a parked car laws by state

Not legal advice. Confirm statutes before you travel. Disclaimer.