If Florida Sen. Lauren Book (D-Broward) has her way you will no longer see dogs reveling in a wind whipped car ride. She has filed a new bill intended to protect animals by making it illegal to let a dog be in a driver’s lap or stick their head out of a window in the car while driving.
Senate Bill 932 also includes provisions to make it illegal to have a dog transported “on the running board, fender, hood, or roof of a motor vehicle,” as well as in a trunk, or enclosed cargo space. Dogs may also not be transported in a car that is being towed.
On top of those restrictions, the bill would require dogs be secured in a crate appropriate for the size of the dog while in a motor vehicle on a public roadway, be restrained with a safety harness or seat belt other than a neck restraint, or be under the physical control of someone other than the driver if in a car.
Dogs transported in open truck beds for pickups must be in a dog crate that allows them to have good footing, be safe from inclement weather, protected from direct sunlight, and have good ventilation.
For violations, dog owners or drivers would be open to potential moving violation citations, with the charges to not count as a criminal traffic infraction.
There will be plenty of rules for cats as well. Declawing of cats will be illegal if not for a necessary medical therapy. If a cat is declawed or partially declawed, the state would be able to fine the owner $1,000. Individual incidents for a cat being declawed or partially declawed would legally count as separate violations.
If the bill passes, a provision in the text would allow courts to ban ownership of animals for offenders.
The bill would also protect animals from being used as test subjects for “any article intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on,” or otherwise meant for human beings instead of animals, such as cleansers, beauty treatments, or items that “promote attractiveness” or for altering one’s appearance.
As written, product manufacturers would be prohibited from applying any of the above products on “live, non-human vertebrate” animals. However, keeping the data from previous tests does not count as developing a product, for the purposes of the bill’s language.
Should the bill pass both chambers of the Florida Legislature and gain approval of the governor, it would take effect Oct. 1.
