Georgia Attorney Tom Ford Proposes Federal Hot-Car Sensor Law After 1-Year-Old’s Death
In Gwinnett County, Georgia, attorney Tom Ford is advocating for federal legislation following the tragic death of a 1-year-old child left in a hot car. The child's mother, Deja Coleman, faces second-degree murder charges. Ford argues that the incident was a result of severe exhaustion and not intentional neglect. He proposes the Zero Hot Car Infant Deaths Act, which would mandate new vehicles to have interior sensors to detect children left inside. This proposal includes features like smartphone alerts and automatic 911 notifications. Ford criticizes the use of Georgia's second-degree murder law in such cases, suggesting that engineering solutions, rather than legal penalties, should prevent these tragedies. He has reached out to U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff and U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett to sponsor the legislation. 
