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

     1  Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

     2     Statutes, providing for transporting pets in motor vehicles.

     3     The General Assembly finds that pets riding in automobiles

     4  have caused distraction to drivers and that this distraction

     5  sometimes results in automobile accidents and injury. It is in

     6  the interest of Pennsylvania motorists and passengers,

     7  therefore, to institute safety measures regarding transporting

     8  pets in automobiles.

     9     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    10  hereby enacts as follows:

    11     Section 1.  Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

    12  Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:

    13                            SUBCHAPTER F

    14              TRANSPORTING ANIMALS IN MOVING VEHICLES

    15  Sec.

    16  4592.  Transporting pets in motor vehicles.

    17  § 4592.  Transporting pets in motor vehicles.

     1     (a)  Restraint rule.--A person who drives a motor vehicle in

     2  which a pet is transported shall restrain the movement of the

     3  pet in the vehicle.

     4     (b)  Head out window.--A person who drives a motor vehicle in

     5  which a pet is transported shall ensure that the entire body,

     6  including the head, of the pet remains entirely inside the

     7  vehicle.

     8     (c)  Permissible restraint systems.--A pet may be restrained

     9  within a motor vehicle by one or a combination of the following

    10  means:

    11         (1)  A latched crate or carrier box which is installed in

    12     a manner which prevents it from becoming a moving projectile.

    13         (2)  A pet seat belt system.

    14         (3)  If the pet is a dog, a dog gate which separates the

    15     driver's area of the motor vehicle from the area in which the

    16     dog is confined.

    17     (d)  Penalties.--

    18         (1)  Except as provided in paragraph (2), a person who

    19     fails to comply with the provisions of this section commits a

    20     summary offense as that grade of offense is defined under 18

    21     Pa.C.S. §§ 1101 (relating to fines) and 1105 (relating to

    22     sentence of imprisonment for summary offenses).

    23         (2)  When a person's failure to comply with this section

    24     results in a motor vehicle accident, the person commits a

    25     misdemeanor of the third degree as that grade of offense is

    26     defined under 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 1101 and 1104 (relating to

    27     sentence of imprisonment for misdemeanors).

    28     Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.