Well one of the things I picked up on from the article is this:
"One of the adults also called a roadside service, and a representative said someone would be on the way to help in a half hour."
Ok I have AAA and while they usually come 30mins to an hour I wouldn't be calling them to get into my car when my child is inside especially given the outside temp was 93 degrees (car was 97 degrees inside when the child was able to be freed). I understand the thoughtprocess behind it but in that situation relying on roadside service to get your child out was probably not the best thinking (I get it situations get make you fuzzy in that department it was just an interesting thing to me).
I also have to wonder if the adult who called the roadside service actually told the rep that a child was locked in the car. Honestly, I'd imagine that rep would have told the adult to call the police immediately rather than wait on someone to come because you locked your keys in your car (which unfortunately I have done that) because locking your keys in your car isn't an emergency whereas your child being locked in your car can turn into an emergency--that's just my thoughts though so who knows what the phone conversation was like.
As for the ticket my main thought is they are likely trying to send a message. The child was fine, according to the doctor at the hospital, so there is that.