Britney's Baby on Board Troubles
by Joal Ryan
Feb 7, 2006, 2:30 PM PT
Source: E! Online
Britney Spears is up to her shoulder restraint in controversy.
A photo of the pop star behind the wheel of a black SUV with infant son Sean Preston in her lap has caught the eye of Los Angeles child welfare officials.
A Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy was dispatched to Spears' Malibu home Tuesday afternoon at the behest of the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services.
But sheriff's Deputy Luis Castro said his department is not investigating the singer, who became a first-time mother last September. He said children and family services merely asked the sheriff's department "to obtain her contact information."
Further questions were referred to the child welfare department, which itself couldn't comment on whether an investigation had been opened, Children and Family Services spokesman Stuart Riskin said.
The incident in question occurred Monday in Malibu.
In a statement, Spears, 24, didn't expressly address the matter of the apparently unrestrained baby in her lap. Instead, she lashed out at Hollywood's public enemy number one, the paparazzi.
"Today, I had a horrifying, frightful encounter with the paparazzi while I was with my baby," Spears said. "...I was terrified that this time the physically aggressive paparazzi would put both me and my baby in danger. I instinctively took measures to get my baby and me out of harm's way."
"I love my child and would do anything to protect him."
X17, the photo agency representing the shutterbugs who aimed their lenses at Spears' SUV, had a different take. It said the pictures were taken "in a very peaceful context, in which photographers exhibited no aggressive behavior."
According to an account at People.com, Spears' well-documented day started with a drive to the local Starbucks for her, her bodyguard and her baby. When the bodyguard, who was in the front passenger seat, left the truck to go inside the store, Spears, who was in the driver's seat, removed her son from his child safety seat in the rear.
While Spears was holding her baby, pushy photographers descended, a source told People.com. Spears waited for her bodyguard to return, then drove away, still holding the child.
If that was indeed the getaway method, it's not one recommended by law enforcement.
"In general, putting a baby on the seat, in the lap, is extremely dangerous to the child," California Highway Patrol Office Joe Zizi said. "You need to have that child in a seat, in the back."
Since 2002, California law has required that all children younger than 6 or weighing fewer than 60 pounds be secured in cars by either safety seats or booster seats.
And even if one is trying to dash away from danger and/or a prying photojournalist?
"It's something you have to take the time to do," Zizi said. "Just as putting on the seat belt yourself."
by Joal Ryan
Feb 7, 2006, 2:30 PM PT
Source: E! Online
Britney Spears is up to her shoulder restraint in controversy.
A photo of the pop star behind the wheel of a black SUV with infant son Sean Preston in her lap has caught the eye of Los Angeles child welfare officials.
A Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy was dispatched to Spears' Malibu home Tuesday afternoon at the behest of the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services.
But sheriff's Deputy Luis Castro said his department is not investigating the singer, who became a first-time mother last September. He said children and family services merely asked the sheriff's department "to obtain her contact information."
Further questions were referred to the child welfare department, which itself couldn't comment on whether an investigation had been opened, Children and Family Services spokesman Stuart Riskin said.
The incident in question occurred Monday in Malibu.
In a statement, Spears, 24, didn't expressly address the matter of the apparently unrestrained baby in her lap. Instead, she lashed out at Hollywood's public enemy number one, the paparazzi.
"Today, I had a horrifying, frightful encounter with the paparazzi while I was with my baby," Spears said. "...I was terrified that this time the physically aggressive paparazzi would put both me and my baby in danger. I instinctively took measures to get my baby and me out of harm's way."
"I love my child and would do anything to protect him."
X17, the photo agency representing the shutterbugs who aimed their lenses at Spears' SUV, had a different take. It said the pictures were taken "in a very peaceful context, in which photographers exhibited no aggressive behavior."
According to an account at People.com, Spears' well-documented day started with a drive to the local Starbucks for her, her bodyguard and her baby. When the bodyguard, who was in the front passenger seat, left the truck to go inside the store, Spears, who was in the driver's seat, removed her son from his child safety seat in the rear.
While Spears was holding her baby, pushy photographers descended, a source told People.com. Spears waited for her bodyguard to return, then drove away, still holding the child.
If that was indeed the getaway method, it's not one recommended by law enforcement.
"In general, putting a baby on the seat, in the lap, is extremely dangerous to the child," California Highway Patrol Office Joe Zizi said. "You need to have that child in a seat, in the back."
Since 2002, California law has required that all children younger than 6 or weighing fewer than 60 pounds be secured in cars by either safety seats or booster seats.
And even if one is trying to dash away from danger and/or a prying photojournalist?
"It's something you have to take the time to do," Zizi said. "Just as putting on the seat belt yourself."
she is soo funny...why not just hand him to her bodygaurd if not the baby car seats??
U know what I mean?
