Assemblywoman L. Grace Spencer (D-Newark) weighed in Thursday on the intent of her legislation that would require pets to be restrained when traveling in automobiles, a measure she crafted to help protect both motorists and pets, alike.
“Unrestrained pets in the car can be more of a distraction than a cell phone, especially if the animal is hopping from seat to seat, trying to sit on your lap, or worse, if they jump down by your feet”, Spencer said. “It’s in the best interest of motorists and the pets themselves to have them restrained.”
Spencer added, “There may be different ways we can go about achieving this goal, but at the very least, I think this is a discussion worth having.”
“I want to commend the young student who first proposed this idea to me for being concerned and engaged. I have a small dog and I know how distracting they can be when driving. I’ve also spoken with my vet who has treated pets that were injured from being thrown around in a car that was forced to stop short. Pets can be hurt or killed just as easily as a person and I think that’s something we all want to avoid,” said Spencer.
Spencer’s legislation would require the driver of a passenger automobile to secure any non-crated domestic cat or dog that is being transported in a vehicle with an appropriately sized, properly adjusted, and fastened seat belt restraint system.
A “seat belt restraint system” is defined under the bill as a device, including an animal safety harness, modified seat belt, tether, or other similar type of control apparatus, which humanely restricts the movement of a domestic dog or cat and keeps the animal secured and confined to a seat in a passenger automobile or within a passenger automobile’s cargo area during motor vehicle transport. TLS.
booster seat or car seat?????
What about a carrier or small crate?
i have a booster car seat for my dog and he loves it 🙂
If I had a restraint that would work for my soon to be large 130+ lbs dog, I would use it. I put him in the back seat. However, as #2 suggested, a carrier wouldn’t fit in my car. I don’t think they’re safe either. My sister helped a woman who’s car ran off the parkway, and her dog (in a carrier) went flying, and was badly hurt. They should re-think this one, and leave it alone. Let’s work on the DRIVERS. Enough laws already…
These types of STUPID laws our legislators can make with ease and fast. However, reducing the budget, lowering taxes, stopping “double-dipping”, ending large payouts at retirement, etc. they cannot seems to handle. I think it’s time for a COMPLETE TURNOVER of ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS!!!!!
I wonder if they make a “booster seat” for my 280 pound Italian Mastif… does anyone know if they do ?
This must be the Democrats new way to ballance the budget. Make stupid laws then issue fines for non compliance. Thanks Obama and the Democrats!!! I have a better idea fix the economy, we need jobs not stupid laws to regulate our lives!
Really? I have an 85lb dog. How am I going to restrain him with a seat belt restraint system? It’s totally inappropriate for him to sit like that in a seat built for humans. A crate doesn’t fit in my small SUV. What’s wrong with the cage type “wall” between the back seat and the cargo area?
You can buy a special car harness for dogs at your local pet store.
Keep voting for democrats, and keep getting this kind of garbage the sad thing is christie who tries to call himself a conservative signs all of their cockamamie bills, hes a Lib just like all of them
It opens up another can of worms….People might forget their Pets in vechicles…We might need Cso radio to crank out those Back seat reminders for Pets!!!
I have a 3 pound Yorkie, I can put him in the glove box.
I raisd an elephant since bith, he’s perfectly happy in his tow behind trailor..!!!