Pets on lap while driving may soon be a no-no in Calif.

Comments (3)

Pull over and put down the dog

Published: May 6, 2008

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ Pull over and put down the dog.

A California lawmaker wants to ban motorists from holding pets on their laps while driving and getting caught can net a $35 fine. The bill passed the Assembly on a 44-11 vote on Monday, and heads to the Senate.

Assemblyman Bill Maze says his legislation has nothing to do with pet-loving celebrities who are photographed driving around Los Angeles with their small dogs.

Maze says he introduced the bill after seeing a woman driving with three dogs on her lap.

He says pets are a distraction that put motorists and their passengers at risk.

"Yes it is all about pet loving celebrities who drive around with their dogs on their laps. Some self rightous animal hater must have proposed this. Well at least he got his name in the paper. Soon we won't be able to eat while driving, drink a soda while driving, blow our nose while driving, sing while driving, and we will have to gag our babies because their crying in a car is distracting..over freaking regulations...right but we can still take our eyes off the road to TEXT!!!!"
-> Posted by Linda / Jul 01, 2008

"This is a silly law, waste of time and money. There are a few genuine issues facing this state, perhaps the legislature should devote time to that"
-> Posted by Toby in Sacto / May 15, 2008

"Ok people, your pet is like your child, put them in a seat belt. Stupid. The problem with this law is that it's just another Nanny State kind of law that takes away a person's ability to do stupid stuff. Ya know- if someone is really dumb enough to have a dog on their lap while driving and Fifi gets thrown into the windshield because its owner was being irresponsible, then the onus is on the stupid driver."
-> Posted by EHM / May 12, 2008