On behalf of the community in Macclenny, FL, we come together to raise awareness for this situation and advocate for stronger laws regarding children left unattended in vehicles. This petition is deeply personal to me as I have witnessed the devastating consequences secondhand. My best friend Brooke and her husband Justis tragically lost their precious daughter, Ariya Renee Paige, due to being left in a vehicle. Families, friends, and loved ones are also grieving the loss of Ariya. The vehicle was turned off and Ariya was strapped into her car seat for at-least 5 hours while the temperature of her body rose to at-least 110 degrees internally and 102 degrees externally. Our community has been traumatized by this incident and it has been very hard to process the grief that we have all been feeling. 

Brooke and Justis's heart-wrenching experience serves as a reminder that no family should ever have to endure such an unimaginable loss. I believe it is our collective responsibility to ensure that every parent, caregiver, and community member is aware of the dangers with leaving children in vehicles. 

According to KidsAndCars.org, an organization dedicated to child safety around vehicles, on average 38 children die each year from heat-related deaths after being left alone inside vehicles. These incidents are entirely preventable if we take immediate action by coming together to advocate for stronger laws against leaving children in vehicles. 

By signing this petition, you are not only supporting Brooke, Justis and their family during their time of grief but also taking a stand against the preventable loss of innocent lives. Together, we can make a difference in our community by ensuring that no child is ever left inside a vehicle again.

Let us honor Ariya Renee Paige's memory by raising awareness about the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles and advocating for stronger laws to protect our most vulnerable lives. No child or parent should EVER have to go through this.