Treffly Coyne and her three daughters drove Dec. 8 to a Wal-Mart in Crestwood, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. The two older girls had collected some money to put in The Salvation Army kettle at the store.

When the family reached the store, the weather was cold and sleet was falling. Coyne’s youngest daughter, 2-year-old Phoebe, was asleep and secure in her car seat.

Not wanting to awaken the toddler and take her out into the bad weather, Coyne parked in a loading zone right in front of the store, turned off the engine, turned on the emergency flashers, locked the car and ac...

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