Is It Illegal To Drive With A Pet On Lap Or Unharnessed?
Many people let their dogs roam loose in cars, whether on a long road trip or a short ride to the vet. But is it illegal? Some states have strict laws completely banning driving with a pet in your lap. Keep reading to find out if the state you call home or a neighboring one has laws about traveling with pets in the car.
Sobering Car Accident Statistics
Anyone with a driving license has heard that most accidents occur close to home. Is that a myth to promote driving safety? According to the National Library of Medicine, it’s not a myth at all. Multiple studies show that 80% of car accidents happen ten miles from home. Globally, car accidents claim the lives of over a million people every year.
Those statistics can scare anyone into driving more cautiously. But it’s not just ourselves we need to protect. Many people take their pets – especially dogs – on road trips, vet visits, or even a cruise around the block.
While harnessing pets in vehicles has gained popularity in recent years, not everyone does it. Driving with a pet loose in the car is a recipe for an accident due to distracted driving. But is it illegal? It depends on where you live.
States With Laws About Pets In Cars
One of the most confusing things about living in the United States is that the laws aren’t united. Letting your pets drive is (probably) illegal in every state, but where you live dictates laws for less severe behavior.
Driving rules and regulations vary widely depending on the state. For example, New York requires vehicles to pass inspection every year or they are undrivable. Residents of other states may have never even heard of such a thing.
There isn’t a uniform law across the country regarding pets in cars. It’s not uncommon in southern states to see unharnessed dogs riding in the bed of pickup trucks. But that’s illegal in California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
What about in the actual vehicle itself? Hawaii is the only state that outright bans driving with a pet on your lap. New Jersey and Rhode Island have laws on the books requiring pets to be harnessed while in moving vehicles.
These nine states have distracted driving laws that could technically be applied to loose pets in the car.
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Iowa
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- South Carolina
- Washington
- Washington D.C.
- Wisconsin
While not exactly illegal, a ticket could be given for violating distracted driving laws. Laws are passed or updated all the time. Check your state laws before letting your pup join you as co-pilot.
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