Unbuckled Dogs Draw Stiffer Penalty Than People

As we turn the bend into summer, say goodbye to your faithful companion hopping into your car, sitting in the passenger seat and hanging his shaggy head out of the window tasting the freedom of the open road. Or as much of the open road as one canine can get between red lights, stop signs and one-lane only road construction in Bergen County.

Northjersey.com Road Warrior John Cichowski reported last week that Col. Frank Rizzo, police superintendent for the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, issued a warning that any motorist found driving with an unrestrained pet will face a penalty much stiffer than the $46 fine issued to unbuckled drivers and passengers.

Penalties for unrestrained dogs range from $250 to $1,000 and as much as six months in jail.

Rizzo said the rationale for the enactment of this new law is that in a car accident dogs become projectiles if they are hanging their heads out of the window. 

How do you feel about this new law? Take our poll and let us know.

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