Jun 4, 2012
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Garden State drivers who fail to buckle up their cat or dog could face criminal charges as well as fines totaling up to $1,000, according to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
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“You should not be driving down the road under any circumstances with a dog driving the car,” said Elyse Coffey, a spokesperson for the New Jersey MVC. “We don’t want dogs driving with the steering wheel and we don’t want cats who sit on the dashboard.”
State officials are teaming up with the NJ Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to enforce laws requiring motorists to “properly restrain their pets.”
The law forbids dogs from hanging out windows – and also from riding in the bed of a pickup truck.
Drivers who fail to do so could face fines from $250 to $1,000 – for each offense. They could also be charged with disorderly conduct under New Jersey’s animal cruelty statutes.
“As your family gets ready to embark on their family vacation, you take the time to buckle up your kids because you love them,” Coffey told Fox News Radio. “It’s also time to take a look at your furry family members.”
She said driving with a distracted animal in the car could be dangerous not only for the family pet, but also for other motorists.
Coffey cited a 2010 AAA survey indicating that 31 percent of drivers said they were distracted by their dog while driving.
“I hate to sound like we’re picking on dogs, but that’s normally the animal we’re talking about,” she said, noting that the law requires all animals to be buckled up.
“We’re not talking about dogs who will lay down nicely on the back seat,” she said. “We’re talking about cute lap dogs that sit on your lap and look like they are literally driving the car – or other dogs who hang so far out the window they could leap.”
A number of New Jersey motorists are calling the law ridiculous and overreaching.
“What nonsense,” one reader told the CBS television affiliate in Philadelphia. “I have an SUV that my dog rides in the back of. Why on Earth would I tie her down?”
“That is not overreaching,” Coffee said. “At any moment that dog could see something interesting and decide to jump out of the car.”
Another reader pondered, “Does that mean I have to buckle my puppy/kitten in an infant car seat?
Coffey said there are plenty of protective animal devices on the market.
“They are not constraining at all,” she said. ‘They simply prevent an animal – in case of a horrible accident – from becoming a projectile.”
FOX News Talk
What idiots
Buckle up the pets but the children on the school bus?
Pull over folks for not having Fido belted in. Meanwhile…speeders, tailgaters and reckless drivers zoom by with impunity.
Bizarre. Pets as child surrogates. And pitiful. A repercussion of abortion.
Dear NJ legislatores–
PETS are NOT furry little children, they are PETS. Even though "some people" think more of their PETS than they do of their CHILDREN, they are not human beings. When did we as a society get things so backwards, where PETS are valued as much or MORE than human children? Buckling up a pet "could" actually cause more harm to the PET, since it would not be able to react in case of an accident.
This is the most silly law I have ever heard of……………… Doesn't government have real problems they can work on? Or are they just too lazy. This sounds like something dreamed up by someone who has nothing to do all day.
you have got to be kidding me right? what the hell are these so called politicians smoking? come on get your head out of your ass and do you job such as hey PASS A FLIPPING BUDGET! CAN WE SAY REVENUE FARMING TO A T?
I resisted the idea for years but recently went out and bought a car seat for each dog and proper seat belt. I didn't notice how distracting they were before, until I compare it to now, because I thought they barely moved. Now everyone has his/her place and when moments arise when I have to stop short I am not worried about their welfare. When I REALLY think about it, I don't want to be, even in the slightest way, the cause of an accident that could harm someone else. I am a teacher and yesterday in class we had a big discussion what rights and responsibilities mean, and determined that most people love talking about their rights and very few like to talk about how to be a responsible person. I think this issue could be part of that discussion.
I can see both sides to this one. On the one hand, the government is just too big. But on the other hand, it's similar to why I agree with the seatbelt laws for children – some people are just dumb. Children and animals cannot protect themselves – they don't get the choice to wear or not wear a seatbelt. I see many dogs who would be seriously injured or killed because they're standing on the edge of the pickup truck bed. One sway of the truck by the driver trying to avoid another car, or one slam on the brakes, and the dog is done for. The dog doesn't know any better – cars are not natural predators of any animal, so how could they know the dangers? (I've never seen a cat in a dashboard as mentioned in the story.) I have a friend who let his dog ride in the back of his pickup truck, and the dog saw something and jumped out. Needless to say, my friend doesn't have that dog anymore. Dogs are so easliy distracted and many of them, when they get something in their eye, that's all they focus on and go for it. It's just not safe to let dogs ride in the back of pickup trucks or hang more than their head out the window. Perhaps the steep fines and "pet seatbelts" is going too far, but I have no problem with doing something to better protect those who can't protect themselves. We have laws against animal cruelty that no one scoffs at, but this one they do? And driving with a dog in your lap is also a danger to the dog – if you get into an accident, the airbag will kill the dog. That's why children aren't allowed in the front seat until they reach a certain size.
Just another reason to avoid the arm-pit of the country, no driving to the Jersey shore for a walk on the beach, I'll take the longer trip and head to VA or NC, nicer beach and better people.
Hypothetically, If I were driving home from the pet store with my new fish, could I be fined if I hadn't had time to purchase the proper fish restraint system?
Appears the pet restraint industry has learned to lobby.
Nanny state in every single thing we do..stay the hell out..
People this is not about the safety of the dog. This is about the reckless driving I see every week with people driving with their little friend on their laps. Why do people think that is a safe place for a dog to be or for a dog to freely roam around a vehicle, what's to stop it from jumping around and distracting the driver. Come on use some common sense, they are just dogs, put them in the crate to travel for your, theirs and my safety.
Its really another way to raise revenue..same as Bloomberg fixing the large sodas,, now you have to buy 2 sodas,, its all about money and control coming from our NEW govt..
Bullsh*t! Another excuse to suck money out of your pocket. NJ can go to H*ll. Jeff, don't ask about the statistics. These lawmakers are stupid enough to spend millions of our dollars to do a 5 year study.
Wasting taxpayers' money with this kind of baloney! Owners should be responsible and if your dogs ARE a distraction, then handle it accordingly, crate them in back or use a seat harness. Mine lay down and ride in the back. They don't ride in my lap. I don't let them hang out the windows because road dirt and grit can blind them. Tired of the government telling us how to handle the minute details of our lives. I do get upset with people whose dogs are balancing out the window to the point that a hard brake will send them flying, but you can't legislate away stupidity. All shelters, rescues, breeders should be providing booklets with basic information on safety from bites to riding in the car. Educate, don't legislate!
that's it, I've heard too much at this point. all New Jersey ELECTED OFFICIALS should be HUNG by the neck until they grow a BRAIN! also collect the dirt bags in DC and add them to the list..
Nanny state?
Would love to see them loading and driving a cattle truck through that state under these new laws!
How about a truck load of pigs? Chickens?
There are some dumb laws out there…this one is right up there with the best of them. I don't know who thought this disgrace out…it's absolutely baffling to me that someone thinks its possible to keep a dog or a cat restrained peacefully in a car. Makes no sense…I don't want to live on this planet anymore.
FU NJ
Where I come from there are no seatbelts on the bus for kids in schools. Why are we worried about a dog using a seatbelt, yet not not a child that we leave in the hands of the government?
A very good point.
What about the 80% of drivers distracted by the cellphones while driving? The government needs to get a freaking life and stop trying to micro manage everyone's lives. Free country my ass. No one is free when every time you turn around the government is saying what you can and can't do. Sounds more like communism.
Why is NJ not worrying more about texting and driving. And why is the fine almost 5 times higher for your dog not being belted in than the actual human driving the car without their seatbelt on. And possible animal cruelty charges? Come on if my dog is not belted in that makes me no different than the person that beats the crap out of their dog?
I let my dog drive.
See I told you he could drive… Aaaaaaah
It's all good until he sees a squirrel-
Time to bring some total truth to this conversation, this statute has been on the books since 2001! Specifically: N.J.S.A 4:22-18. Aug 2001 states "A person who shall carry, or cause to be carried, a living animal or creature in or upon a vehicle or otherwise, in a cruel or inhumane manner, shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense and punished as provided in subsection a. of R.S.4:22-17."
As much as everyone would like this to be Ritchies fault or some Demo state government group, or PETA, it has been there for over 10 years. They are going to more strictly enforce it on cars/trucks coming to and from the shore line areas this summer. Seems like if the people of NJ were all that upset about this "infringement on their right to be stupid, they would have changed it long ago!
1000 DOLLAR fine for your dog sticking his head out the window? And they claim its for the DOG? Name the one time or place in the history of mechanized vehicles, that a dog DIDN'T WANT his head out the f**king window!
Nazi Jerzey strikes again! Never have we SO needed a man like RON PAUL to stem the tide of governmental overreach. Those who think the word tyranny is somehow an exaggeration need to ponder what part of your lives are truly free anymore.
We both know the truth- this is twofold- it is yet another revenue stream for the state and yet another excuse to stab the 4th Amendment in the heart by pulling you over under the excuse of checking to make sure your pet is secured.
The Article clearly states that they are NOT talking about dogs that lay quietly in the back seat. My interpretation is that they are referring to the Dogs that sit up front or hang out of windows. I was behind a car that had an adorable Labrador hanging out the window of the passenger side – the car slowed down at an intersection, something caught the dogs eye and out it went – right into traffic. It was not a good ending.
Nice!!! Glad buearacrats are focused on the real important things. We should turn everything over to these wise folks. Ugh!!!
The nanny State will make this a Fed rqmt depending on what happens in Nov.
Notice the tone in Coffee's comments. "We don't want… we don't want." What utter nanny state condescension. How about this. "We don't want politicians sticking their noses in problems that don't exist!"
with Americas prison sytem slowing switching to for profit facilities, we can be sure to see many more absurd laws to incarcerate the masses. The U.S. makes up for 75% of the entire worlds prisoners. Land of the free my ass!
guess it costs you more for a fine for not buckling your dog than your child? am not real familar with the laws in NJ but knowing NJ as I do, would not doubt it.
"Cruelty to animals" is letting your dog stick his head out the window? Did you ever see a dog with his head out the window of a moving car? There is no where on earth that they would rather be! They absolutely LOVE that and this Coffey lady says that it is "cruelty"? What a bunch of lefties. Go do something useful with your life and stay out of ours!
Any loose object in the car, including a dog or cat, becomes a flying projectile when the car stops suddenly. Most pet shops sell restraints for dogs and cats. Love your pets enough to keep them safe in your car.
No comment.
Pet carriers / kennels work. Why safetybelts?
Next I expect NJ to require I feed my termites a high fiber diet.
I am so glad I don't live in New Jersey…people stereotype the south as rednecks..but at least we have common sense…this is about as stupid a law as you can get. Maybe we should just left the government tell us everything about our life. what time to get up, when to eat, who to date. Good grief.
Maybe the law should be keep your pets in the back seat?
Whether you restrain them or not is your choice. This would eliminate the distraction of having the pet crawling all over the operator of the vehicle or mistakenly hitting a control. I would not want to see someone driving with their 10 month old child on their lap, so why would I think driving with their animal companion would be any different? Just maybe this precaution will save a few lives, whether they are human or animal, wouldn't it be worth it?
Example: When driving 35 mph, a 60-pound unrestrained dog can cause an impact of 2,700 pounds, slamming into a car seat, windshield, or passenger ~ Sounds Painful!
First of all, most of you are overreacting….the state has not put a law in place the requires you to restrain your pet while in the car. If your pet rides in the passenger seat then you have nothing to worry about. It's about not driving with your pet in your lap, or the animal hanging its head out the window, or riding in the open bed of a truck – you wouldn't let your child ride like that, so why would you allow it for your pet that you're supposed to love so much? Personally, I think people should be fined for putting their animal and others (through distracted driving) at risk…..
Here's a quote from the actual press release…
Under N.J.S.A. 4:22-18, NJSPCA Officers can pull over any driver they feel is improperly transporting an animal. Not only can a ticket be issued with fines ranging from $250 to $1,000 for each offense, but the driver can also be charged with a disorderly person’s offense under the state's animal cruelty statutes.
If you'd like to read it in its entirety, go to: http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/PressReleases/archives/2012/053012.htm.
Susan, You are the only person from what I have read that truly gets the whole picture of the dangers from unrestrained pets. It is not only dangerous to the driver, but the animal and other drivers if the driver is distracted by their pet. Good for you
AWESOME!
Insane!!!!!!
Hahaha…
& Snookie is pregnant!!! Yep.
easy fine, to take our cash (nj)-nj-sucks!
the fine is 6x more then the driver, just easy cash-for NJ.
I love the comments blaming Obama for this. Because NJ doesn't have a republican state government or anything?? I highly doubt the president and his cabinet has time to worry about seat belting pets. Liberal ir conservative you are entitled to your political opinion as long as it's not stupid.
NJ you really have your priorities in order animals before human life…the fine is far more than if a person was found without being seat belted…Idiots.
I don't agree with this law, but will abide. However, after spending $98 on a harness system for my two dogs found that they don't make a harness large enough for my one dog. It is one thing to rape the public by making such laws, but at least if your going to make a law, explain what constitutes a restraint and what to do if you can't get one to fit. We just drove for sic days to and from Arkenasas. The dogs stayed in the back seat of the truck. The puppy on the floor because she gets car sick on the seat and the larger one on the seat. Restraining a dog for three – nine hour days would have been more cruel. You made the law now come up with the solution.
Spelling corrections – six and Arkansas
Get a hold of your state rep and bitch he or she might help you fight it if it is an election year
I love this quote "Coffey cited a 2010 AAA survey indicating that 31 percent of drivers said they were distracted by their dog while driving."
do 31 percent of Americans drive with their dogs? sounds like yet another made up statistic! I agree that some people do not use common sense. But the fines for an unrestrained dog are so much higher that a unbuckled human furthers the stupidity.