Dogs and other pets riding in automobiles without seat belts or other restraint could earn a $300 fine for their owner if a proposal by Pennsylvania state Representative Tom Stevenson (R-Allegheny) is enacted.

The idea for the pet restraint legislation came from an 11-year-old boy who won Stevenson's annual "There ought to be a law" contest. The boy feared that if dogs are allowed to stick their head outside car windows, they might get hurt.

Stevenson's plan would outlaw the practice and impose jail terms of up to 90 days for offending owners. If an accident occurs while a dog or other pet is loose in the vehicle, the maximum fine rises to $2500 and a year in jail.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1737 Session of 2005

INTRODUCED BY T. STEVENSON, CALTAGIRONE, CREIGHTON, GINGRICH, KOTIK, PICKETT AND YOUNGBLOOD, JUNE 15, 2005
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JUNE 15, 2005

AN ACT
Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for transporting pets in motor vehicles.

The General Assembly finds that pets riding in automobiles have caused distraction to drivers and that this distraction sometimes results in automobile accidents and injury. It is in the interest of Pennsylvania motorists and passengers, therefore, to institute safety measures regarding transporting pets in automobiles.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:

SUBCHAPTER F
TRANSPORTING ANIMALS IN MOVING VEHICLES
Sec. 4592. Transporting pets in motor vehicles.
§ 4592. Transporting pets in motor vehicles.


(a) Restraint rule.--A person who drives a motor vehicle in which a pet is transported shall restrain the movement of the pet in the vehicle.
(b) Head out window.--A person who drives a motor vehicle in which a pet is transported shall ensure that the entire body, including the head, of the pet remains entirely inside the vehicle.
(c) Permissible restraint systems.--A pet may be restrained within a motor vehicle by one or a combination of the following means:
(1) A latched crate or carrier box which is installed in a manner which prevents it from becoming a moving projectile.
(2) A pet seat belt system.
(3) If the pet is a dog, a dog gate which separates the driver's area of the motor vehicle from the area in which the dog is confined.
(d) Penalties.--
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a person who fails to comply with the provisions of this section commits a summary offense as that grade of offense is defined under 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 1101 (relating to fines) and 1105 (relating to sentence of imprisonment for summary offenses).
(2) When a person's failure to comply with this section results in a motor vehicle accident, the person commits a misdemeanor of the third degree as that grade of offense is defined under 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 1101 and 1104 (relating to sentence of imprisonment for misdemeanors).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.