Although the woman's situation didn't meet the criteria and standards for the Safe Haven program, firefighters accepted the 1-month-old baby girl anyway.
Firefighters took the infant to Parkway Hospital. Under the law, the state Department of Children and Family Services took temporary custody of the baby NBC 6 reported.
Under the Safe Haven law, a parent can legally hand over their baby, terminating their parental rights. The Florida law, which was passed in 2000, can be applied to babies only 3 days old or younger. The law identifies hospitals, fire stations and emergency medical service stations as Safe Haven drop off locations.
The law guarantees parents who drop off their newborns that they can remain anonymous and immune from prosecution, barring any signs of child abuse. The parents can also ask for the baby back if a court hasn't yet rendered a decision ending their parental rights.
Although the baby left with the Carol City firefighters was almost a month over the legal age, the firefighters said that they didn't want to turn the mother away, NBC 6 reported.
There are currently Safe Haven laws in 46 states.
