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Mum rang police when her toddler unbuckled her seatbelt, deciding it was a “teachable” moment.

Arizona mum, Michelle Fortin, tells KPHO she was driving home with her two children in the car when she heard her son call out, “mummy mummy, she unbuckled her seatbelt”.

After pulling over to do the seatbelt back up, Michelle says she tried to explain to her three year old daughter, Camille, the dangers of what she had done.

“This was something that could hurt her – her safety was at risk so I took it for what it was, which is a teachable moment,” Michelle says.

“I got home and I called the police, and I turned her in.” Michelle decided it was a “teachable” moment she needed to act on.

Michelle called the non-emergency line for the Scottsdale Police Department and police officers were only too happy to help out.

Police officer Corey Snead demonstrated how to buckle in safely and explained to Camille why she needs to keep her seatbelt buckled.

“We don’t know what other drivers are going to do, other drivers may not pay attention and they could hit the back of mum, they could hit the side of the car and, you know what, if we’re not buckled our body is going to hit something,” officer Snead says.

“I promise I’ll keep my seat belt on,” Camille Fortin told the officers.

“Yes, it was an extreme choice on my part to call the police, but I know she’s going to remember it,” said Michelle

Michelle hopes by sharing her story it will teach other children how important it is to wear your seatbelt.

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  • I am so impressed with the police for taking the time to follow this up. They may have saved her life.

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  • She was very responsible and did this through the non-emergency line. Yes, a teachable moment.

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  • Sometimes the lesson is better taught when relayed by outsider.

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  • I know some parents whose daughter insisted on continuously doing something illegal within their home. She had a few warnings. In desperation they rang the local police station and asked if they could take her to the station and one of the officers could take her aside and give her a good talk about the issue. Fortunately they agreed and the strong message they gave her worked.

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  • i think when a message is coming from a police officer it’s heard and listened to a lot more than when it’s coming from mum or dad,i think this was a great teachable moment.

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  • Great idea! My sister did a similar thing with my nephew when he was younger too.

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  • A great lesson to teach her daughter. I can’t imagine Police having the time here to do that. Perhaps if you called into the Police Station instead.

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  • we had a child that would slip her arms out no matter how tight the straps were, one day we tapped the brakes (not a skid or anything like that) she never did it again, this time I have a houdini strap attached to stop it before it starts

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  • Luckily the police were good to help out.

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  • I hoped it helped. It can be hard to get young children to understand the importance of keeping their belts on.

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  • I also agree that a trip to the station would have been better than actually having the poor police have to come out.


    • A group discussion would be good too that targets a lot of children. A good way to get the message across to many.

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  • Sometimes you have to do these things to make little “I know everything” kiddies listen ????

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  • The headline does not fit the story – it was a teaching opportunity as the child was not ‘turned in’. The police do a good job in educating the community, one of the more pleasant jobs.

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  • It is of course wonderful that the police took their time to do this, but what would it be like if everyone does this and the police is used to give private instruction sessions ??

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  • I agree with K13 on this one.

    Reply

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