[jimbo2012]

New Jersey, the state which brings you Jersey Shore and The Real Housewives of New Jersey, has expanded it's seat-belt restraint laws to include pets. New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals issues warning to pet owners--restrain your dog in the car or face stiff penalties.



Penalties for unrestrained dogs range from $250 to $1,000 and as much as six months in jail. (Fines can multiply for more than one animal in the vehicle.) Additionally, drivers can be charged with a disorderly person's offense under the state's animal cruelty statutes.



Other states have similar legislation pending that will make restraining pets in motor vehicles mandatory. Hawaii explicitly forbids drivers from holding pets on their laps. In Arizona, Connecticut and Maine, distracted-driving laws can be used to charge drivers with pets on their laps

[rubicon]

Wow! Or is it more appropriate to say Bow Wow. i suspect the law is to force pet owners to keep their pets restrained so as not to be a distraction while they are driving. It is also provides another source of income for the State. However, I agree with you New Jersey is unfairly getting a black eye
with some of the New Jersey reality shows and now this. I hope Governor Chris focuses more on New Jersey's imagine

[2BNTV]

Now I have heard everything. This law is a a dog gone shame.

BTW - I don't have a dog in this fight.

[ajbrown]

A recent thread with some opinions....

Pets Must Wear Seatbelts In New Jersey

[coralway]

This thread rings a bell - think there was one like it a couple of week ago.

Anyway, the thinking behind the NJ law - as I understand it - is that pets moving around in the car distracts the driver, and that is the cause of many accidents.

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by coralway

This thread rings a bell - think there was one like it a couple of week ago.

Anyway, the thinking behind the NJ law - as I understand it - is that pets moving around in the car distracts the driver, and that is the cause of many accidents.

coralway - you're absolutely right - just ask my friend who spent several days in the hospital and then several weeks in casts because of the driver who lost control of their suv and pinned my friend in their car up against a roadside guardrail - because their dog was jumping between the front and back seats!

it's a nanny thing - but made necessary because of irresponsible pet owners. and what about those owners who let their dogs hang their heads out of the car window - just waiting to get injured by some flying debris the resposible owners leave their pets at home!