More animals travel more! According to the APPA 2023-2024 National Pet Ownership Survey, 66% of US households own a pet, which equates to 86.9 million households. And a 2022 survey by Hilton showed that 55% of respondents who owned pets planned to travel with their furry friend next year. With travel with pets becoming more common, states are responding with pet restraint laws to keep everyone safe.
Why We Need Pet Car Restraint Laws
Studies have shown that less than 20% of pet owners buckle up their furry companions when traveling. This translates to tens of millions of pets running wild in vehicles!
Not only does this potentially put pets’ lives at risk, but it’s also dangerous for their families – and everyone else on the road.
Consider that, in a crash at 50 miles per hour, an unrestrained 10-pound dog would impact the dashboard, seat, or another passenger with a force of approximately 500 pounds. This is more than enough to cause serious harm to a human and dog.
Now imagine the injuries a dog like Myles, who weighs 50 pounds, could inflict in an accident!
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Possible denial of insurance claim
Beyond the possible injuries and legal ramifications, there are additional consequences to consider when traveling with an unsecured pet. If you have an accident and you did something that contributed to it, your insurance company may deny your claim.
Receive a quote related to Pet Car Restraint Laws or distracted driver laws indicate that you are partially at fault. If you submit a claim to your insurance company, this information will be provided to them. And if your application is denied, the situation could be financially devastating, in addition to the physical and emotional trauma.
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States that require pets to be restrained in vehicles
Currently, no federal law requires pets to be restrained inside a vehicleand of the 50 states, only three have laws that specifically require dogs to buckle up in the car: Rhode Island, Hawaii and New Jersey.
Hawaii
The Hawaiian Pet Restraint Law states that no person shall hold in their lap or allow in the immediate area of the driver an animal that interferes with the “driver’s control over the driving mechanism of the vehicle” . Fines are $97 for driving with a dog on your lap and $57 for having a loose pet in a moving vehicle.
New Jersey
In New Jersey, pets in moving vehicles must conduct in a carrier or wear a seat belt. Failure to comply can result in a fine of $250 to $1,000.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Pet Car Restraint Law ris equivalent pets For be under the physical control of a person other than the driver, or be restrained by crates, harnesses, seat belts. Violations of this law result in fines of up to $200.
LEARN MORE ⇒ Is it illegal to leave animals alone in a vehicle?
Distracted Driver Laws
Even if you’re not traveling where animal restraint laws apply, you could still get a distracted driving ticket if your pup isn’t secured and you’re pulled over or in an accident. The following states have enacted laws that may have implications for transporting unrestrained pets.
Arizona
Arizona drivers can be charged under distracted driving laws if they drive with an animal in their lap or if a police officer determines the method of transportation creates a dangerous situation.
Connecticut
Connecticut drivers can be charged under distracted driving laws if they drive with a pet in their lap.
Iowa
In Iowa, driving with obstructed vision is an operating violation punishable by fine. And it’s reasonable to assume that having a pet on your lap could obstruct your view.
Maine
Maine drivers risk violating distracted driver laws if they drive with a pet in their lap.
Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, it is illegal for drivers to allow anything on or in the vehicle that could interfere with or impede the proper operation of the vehicle. Granted, having a pet on your lap could break that law.
Caroline from the south
In South Carolina, drivers risk a ticket for negligence or other offense when driving with a pet in their lap, if an officer considers the situation to be unsafe.
Washington
Washington’s distracted driver law does not specifically mention unrestrained pets. However, lawmakers and police have cited having a loose pet or an animal in the driver’s lap as a potential distraction – an offense that can be considered a secondary offense if a driver is pulled over for a violation. another reason – but would not be enough to initiate a traffic stop.
washington d.c.
Washington DC’s distracted driving law specifically lists “interacting with pets” as a distraction that can result in a movement violation. The fine for a first offense is $100.
Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, driving with a pet on your lap violates the distracted driving law.
LEARN MORE ⇒ How to Take a Cross-Country Road Trip With Pets
Ambiguous state laws regarding the transportation of pets
Finally, a number of states have laws that may apply to unrestrained pets in vehicles.
Alabama
Alabama’s animal cruelty laws could be invoked if a police officer determines that the manner of transporting a pet violates animal welfare laws or endangers the animal.
Mississippi
In Mississippi It is an offense of “carrying or confining a pet in a cruel manner.” EIt is possible to extend this to transporting a pet without special attention to safety.
Ohio
Current Ohio animal cruelty laws state that no one shall transport or transport any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma animal cruelty laws make it a misdemeanor to transport an animal in a vehicle in a cruel or inhumane manner.
Tennessee
from Tennessee animal cruelty statues prohibit transporting or confining an animal in a cruel manner.
Texas
Texas disorderly conduct laws make it an offense to transport or confine an animal in a cruel manner.
Utah
Under Utah’s anti-cruelty laws, it is illegal to transport or confine an animal in a cruel manner.
Vermont
Vermont animal health and animal transportation regulations prohibit transporting an animal in a cruel or inhumane manner.
Virginia
Virginia laws require owners to provide proper care to pets during transport.
Washington
Washington’s animal cruelty laws make it is an offense to transport animals in a way that would pose a risk to the animal or public safety.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s animal crime laws make it illegal to transport an animal in or on a vehicle in a cruel manner.
State Laws Regulating Transporting Pets in Open Bed Trucks
Transporting a pet in the open bed of a truck is an impending disaster. Not only can pets fall and get hurt or worse, they have absolutely no protection in the event of a collision.
In addition to these dangers, exposure to the elements can lead to heat exhaustion or hypothermia. And, in the sun, the ground can get hot enough to burn the legs of animals.
To help mitigate some of these dangers, the following statements make ctransporting unsecured animals in an open truck bed is illegal:
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- Oregon
- Washington
Making sure you all get home together is the most important part of traveling with a pet. We hope that understanding national pet restraint laws encourages you to secure your pets when you’re on the road!
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