ferris209 said:

Look kids get kidnapped and/or die everyday. I don't care how far she away she was, several things could have happened to that baby including kidnapping, another car smashing into the van, the baby could have choked on something and died, or even just slip out of the seat and break it's neck. You cannot leave a child unattended at all, even to walk 15 ft, it is just not safe.

Those fears are possible, but in everyday life those fears are very irrational. I'd propose that most children are regularly in more danger while riding down the road with their parents in the car with them.

I don't necessarily see anything wrong with this law, if a child truly is in danger then an officer should have a degree of authority to take action. Officers aren't perfect and we shouldn't pretend that they never make mistakes. A huge problem with the law enforcement and justice systems throughout the world and throughout history is the lack of honesty when it comes to competency. If police or prosecutors would simply admit when they've made mistakes or generally gone too far, that would be a huge step in the right direction. Unfortunately we'd also need a public that is more forgiving and less politicians willing to use the mistakes of others to pretend that they are more competent. Some mistakes are understandable and in this case I think the officer made one.