PPD's Mike Wood Covers Hot Car Laws, Missing Children and More

Pensacola, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Pensacola Police Department PIO Mike Wood joined Pensacola Morning News Thursday with two important public safety reminders heading into summer — what to do if you see an animal or child in a hot car and why you should never wait to report a missing child.

Hot Cars — What You Can and Can't Do

With June heat arriving Wood used his weekly did you know segment to address a question he says comes up every year — can a regular citizen legally break a car window to save a dog or animal in distress. The answer is yes. Wood says if you believe an animal is in a dire situation you do not have to wait for police — you can break the window yourself. The only requirement is that you stay on scene, keep the animal with you unless it needs immediate emergency care, and contact police either before or shortly after. Do not break the window and leave with the animal without making contact.

The same logic applies to children — Wood says if a child is in distress in a hot car do not hesitate.

Wood also clarified a lesser-known wrinkle — leaving a car running with the air conditioning on while you step inside a store is also against the law in Florida. An unattended running vehicle is illegal regardless of whether a child or animal is inside.

Leaving a child or animal in a hot car is a criminal offense. Wood says PPD has charged people for it in the past and will again.

Missing Children — Call Immediately

Wood reinforced the message that has been front of mind in Pensacola this week following the Gerhardt Drive drownings — call 911 the moment you are concerned about a missing child. Wood says seconds matter and that the first thing to do before calling is check your own pool or any nearby retention pond. He says the entire PPD building empties out when a missing child call comes in and that there is no such thing as an inconvenient call when a child's life could be at stake.