Pet restraint laws and a question for all our NJ members

[Joe R.]

Saw this on our local news today.  Since it's in New Jersey I thought I get everyones opinions. I personally think it's a great idea. Also does anyone know if they are actually enforcing it.

 

http://wusa9.com/news/article/207053/283/State-Drivers-Should-Buckl...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Just saw this article that brings some hard reality to this whole discussion:

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_central_southern_az/tucson/2-d...

[F, Calla & Luca]

I saw this. But given the fact that she hit a huge truck and rolled over multiple times you wonder if any dogs would have survived if they were restrained. Of course she wouldn't have had to go searching for them.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

 One of the dogs who died was hit by a car, so if he'd been restrained, who knows...

[Kimmy & Chewie]

What about a hammock in the backseat? I have something like this to transport Chewie. While there are no restraints, it acts like a barrier which prevents him from coming to the front and distracting the driver.

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have seen those. Things that prevent the dog from flying forward certainly protect the driver. The problem is that nobody tests these devices to see if the dogs are protected.

[L.M.]

I like this option....I don't know if it's "acceptable" under the new law, but at least I'm not running the risk of strangling my dog with some type of harness or leash attached to part of the car!  Some of the seat belt type things seem more dangerous than anything!  

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

My two would be over, under and between this in 2 minutes. Looks like it would protect the leather more than the dog.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

This is what my husband has in his car for our dogs and it works great for them.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Fudge and Vern are much better behaved than my two crazy doodles then.
There is nothing stopping my two from walking right over the top of this to the front seat. Lol.
Not to mention the 7 layers of towels and blankets we use to just pull back the layers as Bella vomits all over the car.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

They seldom drive in my DH's car. He likes to have the dog smell in my car....LOL!! I think because of the rarity of it, they sit quietly...maybe they are in shock..."why are we in this strange car?" I am so thankful my two love the car and boat and do not get sick. Poor Bella....such an awful feeling.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am so sorry, it must be very difficult for Bella and you that she gets car sick.

[L.M.]

I think this is an older discussion, but I wanted to post again.....I'm in central Jersey and am really having a hard time accepting this law.  I read in our local paper yesterday that this is, in fact, an "active" law now (Sorry...I don't know any legal terminology)  If pulled over with an unrestrained dog in your vehicle, you would be fined $250.  The way this article worded it was that this law is not an animal cruelty issue...it's that the dogs are considered projectiles if there is an accident.  It said nothing about location of the dog in the car...so it seems to be more than simply keeping your dog out of the front seat.  

One MAJOR issue I have is that I would have no clue about this law if it wasn't for DK....I normally don't even look at our local paper and I have not seen this on the news at all.  Are warnings going to be given out at first?? Can I be pulled over if a cop simply sees my dog in my car??  Will there be checkpoints?? I just really don't understand the specifics. For those of you in NJ...what are your plans on restraining your dogs?  Especially if you have more than one...or if, like me, you now have to figure out where to put dogs and child in a car seat in your vehicle.