What is the Law in Wisconsin as to Day Care Center Van and Bus Safety Alarms?

By Jonathan Safran, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Wisconsin, day care centers, that provide for transportation on a van or a bus for six or more passengers, are required to have a safety alarm installed. The law was put in place in response to the tragic death of Jalen Knox-Perkins who was mistakenly left in a day care van by a Milwaukee Wisconsin day care center. Jalen was only 4 months old at the time of the incident. The death of this child was a loss for the family, day care center, and community. The death of Jalen Knox-Perkins helped, in part, convince lawmakers in the State of Wisconsin to pass a law requiring safety alarms be placed in day care center vans and buses.

The alarm works in a simple matter. Once a vehicle is turned off, an alarm is sounded from the back of the bus. The bus driver then must physically go to the back of the bus to turn off the alarm. This, in turn, forces the bus driver to do a visual sweep or visual inspection of the bus or van to make sure that all children were removed from the van or the bus. While there is an expense to the day care center to install these safety alarms, the expense is well worth it as this one simple safety measure can and will save lives and prevent injuries that take place when a child is left unattended in a day care center van or bus. You can read more about this law and fines associated with the failure to comply with the law by Wisconsin day care center providers at Fines Levied Against Wisconsin Day Care Center Providers.

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