Ohio Senate passes bill giving immunity to those who rescue pets, kids from hot cars

February 12, 2016 at 12:08a.m.

COLUMBUS

Individuals who break into hot cars to save young children or pets would not have to pay for the damage, under legislation that passed the Ohio Senate.

Senate Bill 215 passed on a vote of 32-0 Wednesday and heads to the Ohio House for further consideration.

“The cost of a life is priceless, whether it’s a human life or an animal life,” said Sen. Frank LaRose, R-Copley, a primary sponsor of the legislation. “We don’t want to see any life needlessly taken. For a $200 window or something like that, there’s no choice, right? I think that we all know picking up a rock and breaking the window to get into a vehicle to save a life, it shouldn’t even be a question.”

The short bill would grant civil immunity from any damage caused during the forcible entry into a vehicle to remove an animal or minor, as long individuals determine vehicles are locked and there’s no other way in and occupants are in danger.

Individuals also would have to try to call law enforcement or emergency responders first and remain with minors or animals at a safe location until those responders arrive at the scene, among other requirements.

LaRose said, on the day the bill was introduced, he received news of the death of an 8-month-old in his district who was trapped in a hot vehicle.

“Good people make mistakes,” he said. “Good people occasionally can be thoughtless, accidentally. And this happens far too often.”

Sen. Jim Hughes, R-Columbus, the other primary co-sponsor, added, “Every summer, each of us sees and hears stories from across the country about heartbreaking, preventable deaths that happen when our children and pets are left alone in hot cars.”

More than a dozen states have similar rescue provisions on the books, Hughes said.