Is it legal to break car window to save kids or pets? What AZ law says

Leaving a child or pet in a hot car can cause serious heat-related illness or even fatality in extreme cases. Within an hour, a car's cabin can reach 116 degrees when the exterior temperature is 100 degrees, putting children and animals at risk.

Still, underestimating the heat or forgetting a child or pet is in the back seat can happen to anyone, forcing a good Samaritan to step up and save the day by busting a car window.

However, before going all Superman, there are some Arizona laws you should know before breaking someone's car window to protect yourself from a civil lawsuit.

It's perfectly legal to break a car window to save a child or pet. However, there are a few caveats to this law.

Most everyone would agree the safety of a child or beloved pet is worth more than a broken car window. That's why Arizona Revised Statute 12-558-02 protects do-gooders from civil action lawsuits and liability for damages to an unattended motor vehicle when saving a child or animal from a hot car.

However, before flying into action, you must take some precautions to ensure that breaking a car window is the most reasonable option in the scenario.

State law outlines that each of the following must be considered to fully protect yourself from legal penalties:

"The person has a good faith belief that the minor or confined domestic animal is in imminent danger of suffering physical injury or death unless the minor or domestic animal is removed from the motor vehicle."

"The person determines that the motor vehicle is locked or there is no reasonable manner in which the person can remove the minor or domestic animal from the vehicle."

"Before entering the motor vehicle, the person notifies a peace officer, emergency medical service provider or first responder or an animal control enforcement agency or deputy, if appropriate, of the minor or confined domestic animal."

"The person does not use more force than is necessary under the circumstances to enter the motor vehicle and remove the minor or domestic animal from the vehicle."

"The person remains with the minor or domestic animal until the person who is contacted (emergency services or first responder) arrives at the motor vehicle."

Those who do not follow the procedures outlined in the Arizona law may not be protected from civil lawsuits, so it's best to remain calm in the situation and follow the guidelines listed.