Obviously, we have too many existing laws on the books already. Legislators are expreriencing difficulties dreaming up new ones. Perhaps a one year moratorium on enacting new laws should be instituted.

It is legal to have a child on your lap while driving? The same with your pets.

my vote? execute the dogs

Any distraction while driving is too great. It's about time someone addresses this.

How about a law for banning eating,drinking coffee, talking to passengers,listening to the radio..etc while driving. These are all distracting to drivers as well. . Please Stop! with the idiotic laws! You can't make a law to fix stupid

No!! People are so dumb driving with their dog on their lap, leaning out window. It's crazy. The dog or some person is going to get killed some day. That's an easy one.

This is one of my personal pet peeves, no pun intended! It really bothers me to see drivers with a dog on their lap. How can they use the steering wheel properly if at all? I once saw a woman with a petite yellow lab on her lap ....what ever was she thinking???? I think there needs to be some restrictions!!!

Some states require the dog restrained while in the car and back of pick up ! Sounds rational to me !

No one is saying you can't have the dog in your car; however, they don't belong IN YOUR LAP while you're driving any more than a child does.

I've seen plenty of dummies riding around with their lap dogs on their lap behind the wheel. The state shouldn't be focusing on regulating stupidity. It should be focusing on job creation. Lap dogs are the perfect accessories for the narcissists among us. Let the assumption of risk be on them and if they're involved in an accident and fido flies through the windshield or out the window so be it. That's what car insurance is for.

Pheww!

When cities like Woonsocket, West Warwick, Providence and Pawtucket are on the cusp of going broke, it's nice to know that our State Lawmakers are on the ball introducing this type of legislation to take action on!

Pets in the front seat, are you Kidding Me?!!

Now I feel better..........

That anyone thinks it's okay to drive with a dog in their lap is insanity. It's unbelievable that RI doesn't have a hands-free law either. I saw a woman using one hand to hold her cell phone and her other to smoke a cigarette with a dog on her lap going 65+ on 95 yesterday. It's a miracle she didn't kill anyone considering she barely had a finger steering her car.

Not sure I'm following this. So its ok for the dog to be running around free in the car, and he can be sailing along with his head out the passenger side window, but if he sees something and goes in the driver's lap he's breaking the law? Same law for Yorkies and Labs?
The Ancient Persians had a rule that they had enough laws. Before a new one could be passed they had to get rid of an old one.
Something to think about as an increasingly paternalistic government insists on micromanaging our lives.

If you feel as though you are being singled out because you would curl up and die if you can't have Fifi on your neck 24/7 you shouldn't be driving anyway. You should be in an asylum. I see this kind of idiotic behavior on a daily basis. Stuffing your face , putting eyeliner on, and even the ever popular texting away flying down the highway drifting from one side of the lane to the other. If you even gave to ask if this is a distraction, you need serious help.

60% vote for more gov't oppression? Wow!
Are these the same New Englanders who fought for independence from the King of England with their lives back in the day?

Maybe the real NE'ers went West with the wagon trains and left the gov't loving loyalists behind.

I think it is time the dogs get their own cars...

I think grown men driving down the road with a small dog on their lap look plain stupid. Share your feelings with a beer like most guys out there!!

It's sad that we have resorted to trying to legislate what should be common sense.

My pet just lays across our lap she is not up all the time looking and moving about while we are driving. I think it depends on the training of the pet. I have had a dog prior to the one I have now and she too was well behaved.

If they pass a law banning dogs, cats, etc. from riding on the lap of the driver, then they passed a law that is already on the books. There is a law that states that animals must be secured in the backseat. The last time I checked this law was in effect. The sad thing is that they have to consider this a law. The problem is that drivers have no COMMON SENSE while operating a motor vehicle. I once saw a 150 lb. dog on a drivers lap on Post Rd. The driver could not even see in front of him. YES - PASS THIS LAW BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY - ENFORCE IT WITH A FINE.......Hint Hint Police...

Dogs should be safely restrained in the back seat, just like children. Not only are they a distraction, imagine where that dog is going when you get in an accident. There should be a law and it should be about keeping your dog safe.

TITLE 31
Motor and Other vehicles
CHAPTER 31-22
Miscellaneous Rules
SECTION 31-22-28

§ 31-22-28 Transporting animals. – (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to transport any animal or animals either for business or pleasure on or in an open air motor vehicle unless the animal or animals being transported:

(1) Is kept in an enclosed area of the motor vehicle;

(2) The animal or animals are under the physical control of a person other than the operator of the motor vehicle; or

(3) The animal or animals are placed in the motor vehicle and safely restrained by a harness manufactured for the purpose of restraining animals by means other than neck restraints.

(b) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for a first offense, nor more than two hundred dollars ($200) for each subsequent offense.

History of Section.
(P.L. 1992, ch. 194, § 1.)

I cannot see a big dog in someone's lap, but a small breed dog would not obstruct vision. I have had 2 small breed dogs that were well trained to just sit or lay on our lap. If they are going to pick on that why not pick on dogs in the back seats hanging out the window or dogs in the back of pickup trucks with no restraints.

JR How did you train your small dogs to behave in the event of an accident?

Why was my rather harmless comment erased? I was merely questioning our legislators wisdom on focusing on this'

Any grown man driving with a dog on their lap looks stupid to begin with any way! If you want a small dog then get a CAT and leave it at home for Gods sake! Pay attention to the road.

I totally get the need for this law and think it's sound....however, you can bet some nutjob will use another drivers' dogs in a vehicle as some sort of come-uppance, sadly, for perceived traffic slights from another driver and then it'll be on like Donkey Kong. I never fail to be astounded by the hazards people commit while behind the wheel, things they'd NEVER do face-to-face with that same person. I'm guessing this law, while well-intentioned & safety-focused, will spawn a whole new batch of loonies which will almost certainly further clog the court system. :(

Since when does posting a reply necessitate moderator approval? Seriously, if this is the state that this website has denigrated to, then it's time to move on.

A big part of the appeal of community forums is the ability to discuss topics electronically with our neighbors, in REAL TIME.

I suspect that lagging the responses will not have a positive effect on the community.

We keep our children safe if not in a Car Seat then in Seat Belt's , why risk having your pet on your lap & there is no way you can say it is not distracting it is !
When I take my Rescue Cat who ended up to be a Pure Bred & quite rare, she always' travel's in her VERY NICE CAT HOLDER ! , I do not want to take the chance she will try to get on my lap & distract me.
I am in no way saying it is like getting a DUI , but you do act as distracted, and swerve & you are very lucky everyone who does it that you have not hit & harm, even worse killed someone. So don't judge DUI , in a sober way , w/a dog on lap is just as bad in my eye's . Would you hold a Baby in your arm's.
Either of them a Dog or Baby - the Airbag would deploy & harm them very bad.
Keep it in mind!!

Maybe i'm reading ir wrong. It says
"It shall be unlawful for any person to transport any animal or animals either for business or pleasure on or in an open air motor vehicle unless the animal or animals being transported:
(1) Is kept in an enclosed area of the motor vehicle; (A caged off back seat or hatch area or actual carrier)

(2) The animal or animals are under the physical control of a person other than the operator of the motor vehicle; (Passenger can hold your dog/cat/bird/chicken/pig)

(3) The animal or animals are placed in the motor vehicle and safely restrained by a harness manufactured for the purpose of restraining animals by means other than neck restraints. (Body harness SHALL be used inside the vehicle if not restrained by the non-driver)

So if you do not do one of the 3 its un-lawfull transport Correct?????

Put your mutt in the back or leave it at home.

l would love to take my dog for a ride but

He keeps shaking the saddle off every time I try to ride him.

Seriously sick of the disregard for animals. It should also include having a dog in the back of the pick up.

Guinness "Giant George" Great Dane 250lbs48" !
http://gma.yahoo.com/video/pets-26594274/giant-george-great-dane-is-world-s-tallest-dog-28944351.html

With all of the PROBLEMS facing Rhode Island, THIS is what our elected officials are spending their time (and our money) debating. Where are the jobs bills? Where are the bills for pension reform; mortgage reforms, debt management, aid to Cities and Towns, Bankruptcy of our Cities and Towns, improving the business environment, waste and fraud in government ????? I'm not re-electing ANY OF THEM, I don't give a damn what anyone else tells me or what political party they "represent". THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT WORTHY TO HOLD THEIR OFFICES AND MUST GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beside's the fact that I want to let you know that the opinion on the board w/my Husband Wes's name is my opinion ONLY! I was using my Maiden name - so from now on I will just sign my whole legal name; Beth Johnson-Lessard.
The problem with these dog's is not just about the dog's themselve's , it is the fear of
a CRASH happening due to the distraction & someone wrote about banning ; Coffee, etc.... I was behind a person putting make-up on, all over the road, she did get pulled over , but any distraction is dangerous .
Beth Johnson- Lessard

Farmer T, Joe Six Pack and all the other average (like me) residents. I agree there are priorities here in depressed Rhode Island and while this is not at the top of the Bills for reform or putting emphasis on to collect monies we desperately need....it is still worthy of fixing and bringing safety to all.

As with any of the reform, whatever monies are saved...one must look at the hands that still filter it at the House. We continue to elect those that mishandle ANY monies that they receive then it's "business as usual because they continue to do what they've always done", which in the end is mind blowing. While all of us are trying to pursue anything in this State, I would like to do so with the Dog "only in the backseat/restrained law", and feel more at ease knowing the doggie isn't blocking/distracting the view of the driver.