Starting Sept. 1, if a person leaves a child under age 6 in a vehicle without a supervisor who is at least 12 years old, they're going to get hit with a class B misdemeanor - an offense punishable up to six months in jail and/or a fine up to $1,000.

Council members voted unanimously for the Unattended-Child Ordinance this week, saying Spanish Fork police have had to respond to complaints of children left in vehicles far too often.

"Kids are one of all of our priorities - we want what's best for [them], and this is right up there at the top," Councilman Seth Sorensen said. "It's a lot easier to prevent those things from happening than to wish that something had happened after a catastrophe."

The law applies when any child under 6 is left in any automobile, bus or other vehicle located upon a public street, a public parking lot or private parking lot open to the general public.

"It's a good law because it will make people at least think about it," said Spanish Fork mother Brigette Heller, who has two children under age 3. "The intention is really good, and there are a lot of moms who are guilty of doing it."

State statutes don't specifically address unattended children in cars, but Utah does have a statute outlawing any neglect of children that injures or impairs a child's health or welfare. California forbids leaving children under 6 in a motor vehicle without supervision - if the vehicle's engine is running, the vehicle's keys are in the ignition or there are conditions that present a significant risk to the child's health or safety.

It is called "Kaitlyn's Law," and it went into effect in 2002. Kaitlyn Russell, a 6-month-old California infant, died in a car after being left there for two hours.

Spanish Fork's new law is tougher than California's, which, if violated, is only considered an infraction and carries a $100 fine.

Utah Department of Public Safety spokesman Ted Tingey said people need to realize that temperatures can still be unsafe in cars well into September. At a recent demonstration Tingey attended, the temperature inside a vehicle shot up 12 degrees in 20 minutes with overcast weather and an outside temperature of only 72 degrees.

Heller said Spanish Fork's new law will motivate her to be even better with her children, even if she's only leaving briefly to pay for gas.

"Both of my children are in car seats, and to get them in and out can be a lot of work. But it's worth it," she said.

thollingshead@sltrib.com