Reasoning that good Samaritans deserve legal protection, a veteran state lawmaker wants to provide immunity for people who break into hot vehicles to rescue trapped animals and children.
Sen. John Kavanagh of Fountain Hills, said he was approached by the founder of Don't Leave Me, an organization that tries to protect pets whose owners have left them behind in the car.
While the group was pushing for animal rights, Kavanagh said protections should also apply to those who save children from hot cars.
"They already provide exemptions for first responders and emergency services people, but not ordinary people," Kavanagh said. "And usually it's the ordinary people who stumble upon these things first. So it seemed reasonable to provide a blanket coverage as long as the person acts reasonable."
A report by San Jose State University showed that 39 children had died of heat stroke through October this year. That compares with 24 for all of 2015.
The American Veterinary Medical Association said hundreds' of pets die each year from heat exhaustion because they are left in parked vehicles.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The story has been updated to correct the spelling of John Kavanagh's last name.