Residents are reacting to a scenario being played out too often recently.
It was last weekend-- when a mother in Norwalk was accused of leaving her toddler in an SUV so she can drink with her friends.
On Saturday morning, Bristol Police arrested Kelsey James, 22, of Bristol after she left her 2-year-old daughter in the car while found inside a bar.
Police responded to City Sports Grille on Farmington Avenue around midnight for an intoxicated woman sleeping at the bar, she was taken to the hospital for treatment and evaluation.
"I think as a mom, if you have obviously have your kid in your care, you shouldn`t be drinking to begin with," said Bristol resident Nichole Bonvini.
Police received a call from Bristol Hospital around 5 a.m. telling them that James was inquiring about her baby. Officers located James’ vehicle to find a 2-year-old sleeping in the back seat.
"People make mistakes, but that`s not an excuse for a mistake because this is an innocent child. Thank god it wasn't in the day time she was locked in the car, it could have been worse," said Jay Rodriguez, a Bristol Resident who occasionally goes to City Sports Grille.
Some state lawmakers are trying to increase penalties for those who leave kids unattended in cars.
Recently-- the death of 15 month old Benjamin Seitz was ruled a homicide after the boy was left by his father in a hot car last month in Ridgefield.
There have been other close calls this summer in Connecticut.
"How do you forget to leave your kid in the car in the heat when you`re at the store? It's nuts," said Bonvini.
Some say this weekend's incident- mother forgetting her daughter in a car while being incapacitated at a bar takes the issue to another level.
"The issue of a kid being locked in the car, I think there is a big difference where you go to a bar to get a drink because you have a habit," said Rodriguez.
Police received a call from Bristol Hospital around 5 a.m. telling them that James was inquiring about her baby. Officers located James’ vehicle to find a 2-year-old sleeping in the back seat.
The child was taken to Bristol Hospital for evaluation and is being held there for representatives of D.C.F.
James was taken into custody and charged with risk of injury to a minor and leaving an unsupervised child in a motor vehicle.
She was released on bond and is scheduled to appear in Bristol Superior Court on September 2nd.