newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Legislation has just been introduced in Pennsylvania to increase punishments for leaving a child inside a car. On the same day, a grandfather was arrested at Parx Casino in Bensalem casino for doing just that.

A New Jersey man is facing charges for allegedly leaving his 12-year-old grandson in a car while he gambled.

Cbs3.com reports that sixty-year-old Alexander Salter Jr. of Trenton was charged with endangering the welfare of his grandson.

The police investigation found that Salter parked his vehicle at 3:05 p.m. and entered the casino. After playing slots, he left the building and returned to his vehicle at about a half hour later.

According to 6abc.com, at approximately 3:35 p.m. on Thursday, Parx Casino security noticed a Ford Explorer parked illegally in the lot. They then observed the grandson in the passenger seat. Police say outside temperatures were estimated in the low 90's and the vehicle was parked in the sun.

Salter was arraigned and released on $25,000 unsecured bail.

His charge occured just a few hours after local lawmakers announced plans to crack down on such behavior at Pennsylvania's casinos. Foxnews.com reports police say this is the seventh time it's happened at the Parx Casino.

According to Philly.com, between June 15 and Aug. 25, six parents left a combined 12 children and a puppy unattended in cars in Parx's parking lots. The children ranged from 15 months to 15 years old, and were left unsupervised from a half-hour to six hours.

In August, the state Gaming Control Board warned the casino to do a better job of addressing the problem. Parx Casino officials have said they have taken steps such as adding more parking lot patrols during busy times.

Senator Tommy Tomlinson and Representative Gene DiGirolamo are introducing bills that would make it a 3rd degree felony to leave a child under 13 in a motor vehicle without adult supervision.

The offense is currently classified as a misdemeanor, but would under the new law, increase the maximum penalty to seven years instead of five.

In addition, officials from Parx Casino, working with police and legislators, announced they were increasing security patrols. Casino officials are doubling the number of security cameras and they are posting signs that warn about leaving children unattended.

Fortunately, in all six incidents so far, the children were spotted by either casino patrons or security officers and the children did not suffer any injuries.

Legislators say they plan to introduce the proposals at the beginning of the new session and they are optimistic they will receive strong support.