Section 13A-11-290

Section 13A-11-290Leaving child or incapacitated person unattended in motor vehicle prohibited.

(a) This section shall be known and cited as the Amiyah White Act.



(b) For the purposes of this section, the term motor vehicle shall mean any motor vehicle as defined in Section 32-1-1.1, and the term incapacitated person shall mean any incapacitated person as defined in Section 26-2A-20.



(c)(1) A licensed day care center, a licensed child care facility, a program providing day care service to incapacitated persons, or any other child care service that is exempt from licensing pursuant to Section 38-7-3, or an employee thereof, or a person for hire responsible for a child under the age of 7 or an incapacitated person, shall not leave a child or an incapacitated person in a motor vehicle unattended in a manner that creates an unreasonable risk of injury or harm.



(2) A person violating this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than two thousand dollars ($2,000). If a person has a prior conviction or adjudication under this section, the offense is a Class C misdemeanor.



(3) For purposes of determining prior conviction or adjudication pursuant to subdivision (2), conviction in municipal court shall be included.



(4) If the child or incapacitated person receives physical injury as a result of a violation of this section, the person violating this section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.



(5) If the child or incapacitated person receives serious physical injury as a result of a violation of this section, the person violating this section is guilty of a Class C felony.



(6) If the child or incapacitated person is fatally injured as a result of a violation of this section, the person violating this section is guilty of a Class B felony.



(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this section shall limit any existing cause of action or right to bring a cause of action. A violation of this section shall not be considered evidence of contributory negligence and the liability of an insurer shall not be limited or mitigated.

(Act 2013-287, p. 993, §§1-3.)