A quick Google search revealed that the towing company in question has a reputation for patrolling areas where it's contracted to tow, so the time was probably shorter than if it were called in.

I don't know why the woman didn't park in a parking space since she was outside her own apartment building. She doesn't even have the weak excuse of "I don't live here".

I think it takes about ten minutes to get the car onto the tow truck, start to finish. At least that's how long it took after my accident. So yes. Definitely more than a 'second.'

I called the towing company and left a message that I'd like to donate to the driver's legal costs.

As a kid, my parents regularly reminded us there was no reason for us to be left alone in the car. I remember that especially after news reports where parents left children in running cars for "just a minute" and a thief took the running car.

I was just thinking that if I'd been driving that tow truck and noticed a child in the car, I wouldn't turn back and return. I'd just have driven over to the police station instead.

I bet the tow truck driver tells his version of the story, too.

How are bus zones marked there? The fire lanes in my neighborhood are marked with red curb paint so they're pretty hard to miss.

Oh, I get irate about playing the blame game when it comes to children. I want to shake parents who make reckless decisions about their children's safety and say "Why treat your child with less care than you would any other living creature?".

I have written the local news outlets expressing that she should not be treated different than other families investigated by children's services for leaving their children in the car.

This morning there was a breaking news story about a woman who left two small children in a car on the side of the road after she ran out of gas. In the "about 15 minutes" she was not with her car, the police arrived. She wasn't arrested, but children's services was asked to investigate.

I would love to read the police report (if any) taken for the lady whose car was towed with her kid still in it, but I know from experience it won't yield much. I've ordered police reports from two local police departments; identifying details of most of the situation(s) and all parties are blacked out.

I have written the local news outlets expressing that she should not be treated differently than other families investigated by children's services for leaving their children in the car.

I am impressed that the truck driver turned around and took the car back. As another commenter said, if I was a tow truck driver I would have taken the car to the nearest police department.