My Babysitter Quit !!

I suggest paying for half. It's up to BOTH the child (assuming they are of a responsible age) and the driver to require seatbelts. "This car doesn't move until all children are buckled."

Honestly, the babysitter is the adult in charge at the time of the incident, she should have followed through.

On the other hand, I get the impression that lossing THIS particular babysitter is more than just someone you can replace and the impression is that you don't just want to replace her, YOU WANT KEEP HER.

If it were me and I felt the way that I think you may be feeling about someone I trust with my children, I might consider eating the loss of the money and paying for the tickets this time with the understanding that the next time is her responsibility. It may have just been a fluke that the children didn't put on their seatbelts this one particular time, and it could very well have been you as the driver.

Absolutely not, you should have fired her if she didn't quit. One mistake is all it takes for disaster to ensue. Besides you usually do not get caught the first time you do something wrong, more like 20+ times. This is a lesso.n he/she needs to learn. You pay for supervision, it is the sitter/drivers responsibility. Who's the adult here?

Now I see what you did. So glad she took responsibility and is willing to learn from her mistake. Follow up, question you girls daily. They will know how important it is if you are concerned enough to inquire regularly.

I am sorry your sitter quit but it is NOT your responsibility to pay those tickets at all!! That's like saying if you work for an office and park illegally and get a ticket, would you ask your boss to pay that ticket because you were parking for work?!?!?!?!? NO WAY!!! When I put ANYONE in my car from my kids, my parents, ANYONE I don't move the car until everyone has their seatbelts on....that's the responsibility of the DRIVER no only because of a ticket but more so because of a possible accident....I don't want my passengers getting hurt and/or suing me if they did?! Maybe this is a blessing in disguise, if your sitter was careless enough to drive when your children did not have seatbelts on, what else was she careless about? Try to move on, get a new sitter and show your girls some videos on YouTube about accidents you can get into by not wearing seatbelts!!!!! Good luck.

Since you're the one who has everything to lose, I think you do need to pay for the tickets and ask your sis to reconsider. Have a serious talk with your daughters and let them know if it happens again it will be coming out of their allowances or Christmas budget, or the sale of something they own, etc.

Tell your sis your kids have agreed to the terms and that as long as she gives them a quick reminder before driving away, there should be no problems in the future.

Good luck!

Hi, J.. This is a tough one. First of all, the person driving is responsible to make sure that the passengers put on their seat belts. If the girls tried to trick her into thinking that they did, but they actually didn't, maybe it would be at least partly their fault...but it doesn't sound like it. I'm glad that the sitter just went ahead and paid it. I think it's quite nice of you to offer to pay half. That's what I would do in your situation.

Peace,
Syl

Personally, I would fire the sitter for not making sure they had their seatbelts buckled before the car even started moving.

First the babysitter should not have started driving until both girls had their seat belts on. Or she even buckled them for them. But depending on age and attitude of the girls maybe that was difficult?

Second, you should definitely pay for the tickets. It was your girls refusal to use their seat belts that caused the babysitter to get the tickets.

You must talk to your girls and tell them when they are in any vehicle, they must be wearing their seat belts. No ifs, ands or buts about it. Their refusal to wear their seat belts would equal some sort of punishment also.

Then go to the babysitter, beg her forgiveness, give her a raise and tell her the girls will ALWAYS put their seat belts on as soon as they get in the car.

But...after a moment of thought, the babysitter should have known not to drive off without the girls seat belts on. Unless the girls are teenagers, it seems to me that it shouldn't have been that hard to get them buckled in.

Are you kidding me? You're still considering using her after she failed to restrain your children in their seatbelts. It's not your girls' fault, it's hers. If I were you, I would look for somebody else.

Ok, this is blowing my mind. I find it amazing that anyone even suggested that you should pay for the tickets!!! If my son's nanny drove around without him in a seatbelt I would be absolutely livid! I wouldn't let her drive him anywhere anymore and would certainly consider firing her. Your question did not say that the kids REFUSED to put on their seatbelts (and if that was the case she should have refused to drive until they did). And the fact that she would quit over it would definitely make me reconsider my choice of sitters.

You should pay the ticket if you told her not to bother having your children wear seatbelts.

Don't give her a dime!!!!! Your daughters lives are in danger if they are not wearing a seatbelt. I would find someone else to pick them up at school asap. She is lucky that the police stopped her and that it wasn't an accident instead. They were riding in her car, SHE IS THE ADULT, DON'T GIVE HER A DIME!!!!!!

With your babysitter being the adult; and old enough to drive, it was/is her job to insist that children buckle up! I'd be more concerned about her lack of safety for my children! I remind my girls every day, every time we go anywhere to buckle up! Maybe this is a blessing in disguise and you should find a more responsible sitter!
Sincerely
Kathy N.

I would say, you should consider paying the ticket if: You do not typically require them to put their seat belts on. It is your responsibility to set a good example for your children. And again, state law requires them to wear seat belts. Pay the ticket, require that your children wear seat belts, and find a new sitter - one that can belly up in safety situations.

You should NOT pay the ticket if: You do require them to wear their seat belts. The point of the matter is she drove your children home from school without seat belts. There is no way that I would all my daughter to be driving without a seat belt. AT ALL. Your daughters' safety was at risk, and you want her to continue driving them? Find a new sitter that understands the importance of safety.

Wow, people are really divided on this.
Myself, I think the kids should pay.
My children know, 100% to put their seat belts on every time, in every car.
Its a habit, and you need to put your foot down, you should not have to tell them every single time you get in a car to put their seat belts on, after 1000 trips in just 2 years, I would think they would know by now.

Make the kids wash her car and rake her yard until the tickets are paid off.
And tell them them to buckle up in every car, every time or face punishment!

no way, do not pay that ticket....she needs to make sure seat belts are buckled or the car DOES NOT MOVE.It is her responsibility as the driver. This must be a firm rule with zero tolerance. If she quits, find a new babysitter....your kids' safety needs to be the #1 priority.

You should pay for the whole ticket for the seatbelt violation. You are still responsible for your girls' actions. If they broke a window at her house, you would have to pay all of it.

She could take you to small claims and have you pay for the whole thing there and her court costs.

It's just the right thing to do.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

A few more details please! You failed to say how old your chilren are. Did the sitter tell them to put the seatbelt on? Did your children indicate they had put it on when they hadn't?

Early elementary children I would say the sitter is at fault, her JOB is to take care of the children, and she should have checked.

Late elementary children, children who lied or misled the sitter into thinking they had, you should cough up half, she knew better, but so did they.

The fact you sitter quit over this makes me wonder what else is going on?????

Hi J., I think you have a problem that can be solved. 1. Tell your baby sitter you will pay for both tickets if that will keep her. 2. Tell your sitter not to drive the car if they refuse. (She should have never driven them in the car if they were not in their seat belts.)Tell her to call you so you can talk to the girls. Your children need to know not using their seat belts IS NOT AN OPTION. Good Luck!

Pay for the tickets and tell your sitter that she shouldn't be driving at all if the girls are not wearing their seat belts even if that means she has to pull over and wait until they put them on.!!!!!

I don't think you owe her anything, it was her responsibility as the adult to enforce the rules and make sure they are followed. My boyfriend won't start his car up until I buckle up, even though I am an adult, because he feels he would be responsible if something were to happen to me since it's his car and wants everyone in it to be as safe as possible. As it is his car, I have to follow his rules, though he makes me buckle up even if we're in my car and I am driving :) I think it shows that you truly care for the person and their safety... Anyhow, back to the sitter - she is paid to watch your kids so they don't endanger themselves, driving a moving vehicle is included in this "watching for their safety" category that you're paying her for. I am sure they are old enough to understand that it is for their safety and that the car won't move till they buckle up, considering you say they buckle themselves in, and you don't mention a car seat or booster seat. I am sure that when they see they are missing out on going to the park or doing other fun things because the car won't start till they are buckled, they will do so in no time. Good luck!

I'd probably pay or all the ticket and tell her that if it happens again it is her responsibility. They are in her care and have to follow the rules. If she is unable to enforce the rules then you might have to reconsider her employment.

No you should not pay for any of the ticket - as your sitter it is her job to keep your kids safe and that includes buckling them in the car PERIOD, no matter how long the trip! My car does not move if my kids aren't buckled. If she can't make sure they aren't seatbelted in, then she should not be watching your children IMO.

Let her quit! In less than those 5 min, if she had an accident the girls would be at the HOSPITAL...this is serious. Its HER responsibility to make sure they put the seatbelts on...she is NOT THE RIGHT PERSON FOR YOUR KIDS!!!

How old are your girls? Did they know they were responsible for their own seat belts? If yes- pay the ticket.
Should she have checked? If yes you don't want her back.
A 5 min drive- gosh how about walking?
best, k

No way! Im sorry but they are her responsiblity when they are with her. It is 100% her job to make sure they are in their seatblets before the car starts moving! I would be pissed and fire my babysitter over something like this because most accidents happen within 10 miles of home!

Hello J.,
I have been a care giver with a Day Care in my home for many years. I have to honestly tell you that if any of the children in the carpool were to refuse to wear a seat belt and to have not one but both your girls be disrecpectful of my instructions They would never be in the car again. I have to be responsible for the safe delivery of children and no other child has the right to put me or the others in a unsafe postion. You said that she had to ask them more than once which is a sure sign that they felt they were/are in charge. I would expect you to pay for their actions, and even though she said " it's alright & took care of it" she still has to pay the bill which will be very expensive, gets a mark/ maybe two against her insurance and the girls are still irrresponsible since they are old enough to tell her its not on or to sit there with out moving about to catch the attention of an officer having several police officers in the family I know from their statements that only when a child is doing something like moving around in the car, or doing something unsafe does it catch their attention . If you aren't wise enough to just give her the money no matter what then I hope she is wise enough to quit or raise your rates. I am sure there are other children out there to take thier place in her Day Care.

No, you shouldn't pay for the tickets!! That was her responsibility to make sure your children put their seat belts on, no matter what they say. If they refuse, or remove the belts, then she should have sat in the parking lot until they put them on. I can't believe she drove off without enforcing that! Find another sitter.

This is my option but u shouldn't pay any because it was her responsiblity to make sure they had there seat belts on .

I would say pay them in full, then whatever the cost is make your daughters work that amount off, whether is be through chores or community service type activities, so I would suggest making a chart and a dollar amount for everything extra that they are doing to pay off this debt that they have caused, desipte being warned and knowing the dangers.

pay for none. It is her responsibility to ensure everyone in the car is buckled before the car is put in gear. Try to talk to her, or start searching for another sitter or a before/after school program like PLACE.