Goodbye to those dog days of summer with dogs leaning out the car window or in the back of pickup trucks while heading to the Jersey shore. Just don’t tell some folks in VA about this cause dawgs in pickup beds are very popular in these parts. (Remember, currently we live in the South.)
As natives of N, and former pet owners, we were amused (but not surprised because, after all, it’s in NJ) to read that it’s cheaper for humans not to “buckle up” in a car. They face a fine of $46 whereas, drivers with an unrestrained pet of ANY type (dog, cat, bird, lizard) face fines ranging from $250 to $1,000 — for each offense. So, the more loose animals in your NJ car — the higher the fines AND drivers can also face up to 6 months in jail.
%5B22%5D.jpg "william (14)")
YIKES no more doggie in the (car) window.
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) teamed with the NJ Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NJSPCA) in announcing that anyone “. . . improperly transporting an animal (of any type) will face fines for each and every one under a new distracted driving law.”
NJ is now the only state where driving with loose pets in the car violates animal cruelty law. But, it’s not alone in tackling an issue of what some transportation experts consider distracted driving.
In a 2010 AAA survey, 20% of Americans reported letting a dog sit in their lap when driving; more than 30% reported being distracted by dogs just being in the car. At least half of those surveyed said they pet their animals while driving.Residents in AZ, CT and ME can be fined under distracted-driving laws if driving with a pet in their lap. In Hawaii, it’s against the law for motorists to have with pets in their laps while driving; RI and OR are considering following suit.
Not so in NH where we hope to eventually move. The
state motto is “live free or die” which is taken quite literally. NOT only aren’t there any distracted driver’s regulations, but also no regulation requiring helmets for motorcyclists.So when we’re living there we can have our pets ride with us on a motorcycle while we ride with no helmet.
14 comments:
I suppose it makes sense to buckle up even the dog.
Poor dogs. The big thrill of the day is to ride with your nose in the wind and your ears flopping. :\
Seems like a good idea but the fines are pretty hefty and disproportionate.
Well, we don't have cats, dogs, chickens, lizards, birds, or anything else in our vehicles...or our home, so there ya go. Plus we couldn't afford the fines.
Another reason to get a Republican controlled Congress and a Republican in the White House.
Mingus always goes in his crate when in the car. He is an excellent traveller and I never hear a peep out of him. He just curls up and goes to sleep all the way to the coast ... unless we stop for a pee break. He has ridden in his crate since he was a pup. Safer for him and for me.
i can't believe this but then i can. they can't even make people stop texting while driving or talking on cell phones. every time i leave home icome close to an accident by someone on their phone. our street has 4 of the 4 way stop signs and they are all dangerous because of cell phone drivers. glad i don't live in NJ
Nj has some pretty good fines for using a hand held cell phone while driving and it has definitely cut down on stupid people trying to drive while holding something. We are visiting in Va this week and yesterday we passed two women driving with something in EACH HAND. They were not stopped, the car was moving. They must have had their knees on the steering wheel.
And frankly it is about time they did something to protect pets in vehicles. Dogs look cut with their heads out the window but I would love my dog too much to risk a stone being kicked up in traffic and hurting him. And in the open back of a pickup--horrors. Can you imagine if the pickup had to stop suddenly or was in an accident and the dog was thrown. Unfortunately sometimes we need laws to protect us and animals from very stupid and carelss people.
I feel a bit torn about that law. On one side it's great! If crashing with the car there's no risk of getting a flying dog in the head but I would get big problems with my now, soon four dogs :-) My car is so small that I just can't buckle them up :-) :-) :-)
Have a great day!
Christer.
Remember, this is the state that tried to outlaw runny eggs, and won't let you pump your own gas. On the pluses side, they originated the "single finger wave".
Grenville
:) Thank you so much for that sweet comment. You are welcome on our porch any time. You bet!
Thank you for that sweet comment. I have only lived in the home for four years on June 23.
You are welcome on our front porch any old time you like!
There are so many different laws. I do worry about the tiny little dogs in the laps as a quick turn of the wheel could be hazardous to the little one. Cute little white dog in the top photos.
Funny how laws protecting animals are more stringent than for people.
Post a Comment