Many pet owners enjoy taking their pets on car rides, but it’s important to ensure the safety of both the pet and the driver. Here’s what you need to know about North Carolina’s laws regarding pets in vehicles:
Driving with a Pet in Your Lap
- Current Law: In North Carolina, there is no specific law that prohibits driving with a pet in your lap. However, the pet must not be a distraction to the driver.
- Legislative History: A bill was introduced in 2017 to make it illegal to drive with a live animal in the driver’s lap, but it was withdrawn. This bill faced opposition from pet owners and military veterans who rely on service animals for health reasons.
Pets in Pickup Truck Beds
- Current Law: There are no state laws requiring pets to be restrained in cars, meaning dogs are legally permitted to ride in the back of pickup trucks.
- Safety Concerns: Transporting pets in the bed of a pickup truck can be hazardous. Thousands of dogs die each year in the U.S. from being in truck beds, due to accidents or jumping out at high speeds.
- Proposed Legislation: A bill was introduced by Rep. Grier Martin in the N.C. House to make it illegal to transport dogs in the back of pickup trucks, but it has not yet been passed into law.