Animals as passengers

**IMGreat101** · 01-23-12, 08:31 PM

I snapped this at a red light. This infuriates me. Animals riding in the drivers lap. Same goes for animals in the bed of a pickup.

Can you write a ticket for either of those?

**Twan007** · 01-23-12, 09:19 PM

careless operation of a motor vehicle - Any person operating a motor vehicle on the public roads of this state shall drive in a careful and prudent manner, so as not to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person.

I don't consider an animal in your lap a "careful and prudent manner"... how much does THAT slow down your reaction time/create blind spots/etc.

**Cidp24** · 01-23-12, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by Twan007

careless operation of a motor vehicle - Any person operating a motor vehicle on the public roads of this state shall drive in a careful and prudent manner, so as not to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person.

Pretty much the same here but it's called "Careless Driving". That's about the only law I can think of that would cover it.

**HudsonHawk** · 01-23-12, 09:45 PM

It's not illegal here, but it is annoying.

**Rhino** · 01-23-12, 10:02 PM

If we can articulate that the driver was distracted by the animal, we can cite them for such.

**jmur5074** · 01-23-12, 10:36 PM

What Rhino said.

With that said, the ultra liberal courts in my area won't take a citation for something like that unless the person is letting the dog actually drive.

**lewisipso** · 01-23-12, 11:25 PM

My baby rides in the back of the SUV and not in the bed of the truck. (the dog too)

**IMGreat101** · 01-24-12, 03:35 AM

Originally Posted by jmur5074

unless the person is letting the dog actually drive.

**gopherpuckfan** · 01-24-12, 10:26 AM

Failure to Drive with Due Care

169.14 SPEED LIMITS, ZONES; RADAR.

Subdivision 1. Duty to drive with due care. No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions. Every driver is responsible for becoming and remaining aware of the actual and potential hazards then existing on the highway and must use due care in operating a vehicle. In every event speed shall be so restricted as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle or other conveyance on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.

**JLK** · 01-24-12, 12:41 PM

devote full attention to driving and/or lap driving.
when i lived in california i had a snake named dawg that like to ride with his head out the window. he also like to watch tv.

**ChesCopPodz** · 01-24-12, 01:58 PM

I'd never win a conviction here unless I saw the vehicle do something stupid and the dog was the cause.

**Shoestring** · 01-24-12, 10:02 PM

Annoys the living day lights out of me but no law against it unless there is a crash, then I am sure I could find something

**berserk** · 01-25-12, 02:24 AM

No law against it here. I wouldn't try to stretch careless driving to cover it (which reads about the same as what has already been posted) unless there was some significant bad driving.

The city where I worked before this had a law called "acts prohibited" that specifically applied to animals in the lap, putting on makeup, and a couple other things.

**Jks9199** · 01-25-12, 02:31 AM

In the lap, I can make the case for reckless driving because the critter will interfere with operation of the vehicle controls.

**Cidp24** · 01-25-12, 02:52 AM

Originally Posted by Jks9199

In the lap, I can make the case for reckless driving because the critter will interfere with operation of the vehicle controls.

SEC. 63-3-1201. Reckless driving.
Any person who drives any vehicle in such a manner as to indicate either a wilful or a wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving. Reckless driving shall be considered a greater offense than careless driving.

Hey, a pet is property, right?

**Badge17** · 01-25-12, 12:27 PM

The ticket won't hold up in court. Its easier to stop them for another reason and write that ticket and then warn them about the animal.

I once stopped a man for failure to signal changing lanes, when I walked up he had a rather large snake around his shoulders. Just told him to put the snake away and pretty much ran back to my car and took off... I don't like snakes.

**Jks9199** · 01-25-12, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by Cidp24

SEC. 63-3-1201. Reckless driving.
Any person who drives any vehicle in such a manner as to indicate either a wilful or a wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving. Reckless driving shall be considered a greater offense than careless driving.

Hey, a pet is property, right?

A pet's property, yep -- or load and/or passenger, right? That's why I'd use this VA code instead of the general reckless:

§ 46.2-855. Driving with driver's view obstructed or control impaired.
A person shall be guilty of reckless driving who drives a vehicle when it is so loaded, or when there are in the front seat such number of persons, as to obstruct the view of the driver to the front or sides of the vehicle or to interfere with the driver's control over the driving mechanism of the vehicle.
(emphasis added)

**abom334** · 01-27-12, 02:00 AM

Obstructed view or careless driving, depending on what you can articulate.

**warrants 1** · 02-06-12, 08:03 PM

We dont have a law on the books that specifically addresses loose critters, but I wish we did. Here in South Carolina there are A LOT of ppl who drive with a dog in their laps. Im not sure I would write careless operation inless the car was endangering others on the road. Im just waiting for one to go flying out the window.

**McCrackhd** · 02-12-12, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by Cidp24

SEC. 63-3-1201. Reckless driving.
Any person who drives any vehicle in such a manner as to indicate either a wilful or a wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving. Reckless driving shall be considered a greater offense than careless driving.

Hey, a pet is property, right?

I take offense to this, sir! My pets are part of the family, not property!