Fredericton — Starting Sept. 1, the provincial government is going to try to teach old dogs some new tricks. Since 2011, a ban on distracted driving has been in effect, prohibiting the use of cellular phones and other handheld devices while driving. Now, the Department of Public Safety is enhancing those rules to also prohibit unrestrained dogs, cats or other pets while operating a motor vehicle.
Credit: htekidsnews.com
“I admit we’ve had mixed results with the existing cellphone ban,” said Public Safety Minister Stephen Horsman. “We know many drivers still operate their phone while in traffic, and some even text and drive despite how extremely dangerous it is. We are taking this opportunity to revisit the legislation to target some additional risky behaviours that affect a driver’s focus. Near the top of the list is addressing the issue of people driving with pets in their laps or roaming free around the vehicle.”
Starting Sept. 1, all dogs, cats or any other pet must wear a seatbelt while riding in a motor vehicle in motion or be confined to a carrier, crate or cage. Violations will be punishable by a fine of $172.50 for the first offence, $550 for the second and escalating up to $1,100 as well as a 60-day licence suspension for the third offence. This law is applicable to any animal travelling in a motor vehicle at any speed on every public road, street or highway.
“I’m not sure how Molly will handle it,” said Rothesay resident Marjorie Herbert. “She likes to be with me on my lap, or she gets really nervous. She also likes to stick her head out my window and have me scratch her belly. I don’t see the danger, frankly. If I tried to seatbelt or crate her, she’d probably fuss and whine which would be very distracting while I’m trying to drive.”
The Department of Public Safety is also introducing other amendments to the distracted driving portions of the Motor Vehicle Act, including the following:
- Despite conventional wisdom, if one is driving fast they must not also be furious;
- Incidences of road rage are illegal except in circumstances where you are totally in the right, and the other person is driving like a total moron and/or douchebag;
- Eating messy food while driving will be explicitly forbidden, including but not limited to the following: submarine sandwiches, barbeque chicken wings, ribs, lobster (unshelled), chili fries, spaghetti and meatballs, sloppy joes, or any use of chopsticks as utensils;
- Cars may only operate a “turbo boost” if they have a sentient on-board computer sidekick from Knight Industries;
- Motor vehicles must not transform into heroic alien robots while in the flow of traffic, even if a Decepticon is present;
- DeLoreans operating a flux capacitor must travel slower than 88 mph at all times;
- Operating a motor vehicle without looking at the road for a period greater than 30 seconds is not explicitly forbidden, but is strongly frowned upon.
Horsman hopes that this crackdown on distracted driving helps send a clear message to the motoring public. “We have learned that we need to be very clear with the public, or they will try to find loopholes to continue to drive hazardously. This legislation… oh crap, I dropped my Bluetooth. I’m just going to try to find it. Damn, it’s under the seat. Hello? Hello?”
Well the problem I see is finding seatbelt harness for all breeds of dogs, I have a poodle 6 pounds he has one but when he is in it lifts him off the seat, is he safe I really don’t think so. I’m more distracted because he is uncomfortable. Also they are hard to find in small rural areas. Find one for a Great Dane or a Saint Bernard good luck it’s not going yo happen. Try and put a crate in your vehicle to put a dog that size in to just go to the vet not fun. We have bigger problems than fogs not in seat belts on our roads. This is just crazy. My dogs have seat belts it took me a very long time to find the right ones that fit and like I said my small dog it doesn’t work well for him.
Don’t agree with this law at all. You still see ppl texting and talking on phones. And what about the people walking across street, without looking, and texting and on phones. And people that cut in front of ours and then turn. And it is pretty hard to put seat belts on and what about the costs of seat belts.
Why not just have them in carriers?… But seatbelts???
and what size carrier can you get in your car if you have an Irish Wolfhound or St. Bernard…I’d love to see the carrier that that fits in the car for a Newfoundland Dog…yes I can understand why they thought this but they did not think this through…..
I was sure this was a joke when I seen this!! What??? This is so ridiculous!!
I thought this was real at first then I kept reading…..?DeLoreans operating a flux capacitor must travel slower than 88 mph at all times
This must be a joke! We have much more serious problems here in this province than dogs wearing seatbelts……of course this is about the speed of the Gallant government. Hit the seniors now pets……anything fof a buck!
Mine go in crates in long drives with two kids under 4 and 3 dogs I’m not going to seat belt my dogs over my kids
Crate is restrained. The law is as stated above “Starting Sept. 1, all dogs, cats or any other pet must wear a seatbelt while riding in a motor vehicle in motion or be confined to a carrier, crate or cage.” Learn to read people!
To whom it may concern, I don’t own a dog or cat. I do own a cell phone, but my vehicle is set up with blue tooth and automated response. I have to say whoever comes up with these laws, give it a rest. Begin enforcement of the existing laws before creating new laws to justify your overpaid, unnecessary political positions. Thank you.
My dogs are the best behaved automobile occupants I have ever owned. They don’t whine, they don’t try to attack passing vehicles, they don’t stick their heads out the window and they don’t jump around – but they lie quietly together on the back seat. However, they are very aggressive when a stranger approaches my parked car (a caution to any law enforcement officer contemplating giving me a ticket). I think I’ll just lock them in the trunk when we next go to the vet.
yes, that new last about not smoking on trails and near public buildings and parks – who is enforcing that one – NO ONE!
I mean new law – sorry
Do you people not read at all?
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where does it say that I have never been on this site before…just responding to a facebook post and was taken aback by this post …lol this is how bad the g’vt and why ppl do not question and take such rubbish seriously incl myself!!!!!
How do you strap 3 greyhounds in? The back seats need to be down to fit them in and there is no place to attach the seatbelt.
Dogs in a seatbelt… 70 kids on a school bus and the only one wearing a seatbelt is the driver. where is the distraction here??
people you are aware this is a parody site lol good story though
For heavens sake! READ it all before commenting, its a joke!!!
But if anyone can supply me with a mobile table that can accommodate a 10 inch plate and a glass of wine for my Ferrari I’d be grateful.
[…] — Wednesday, The Manatee reported that New Brunswick pets will have to start wearing seatbelts starting Sept. 1. The extreme public reaction following this news served to alert members of the New Brunswick SPCA […]
I’ve seen several decipticons in traffic and have only had to change my car once, how big is that fine?
I’m glad about the road rage law makes sense. Lmao
You’re all fuckin idiots.. this is satire.
Just another stupid way the government takes all freedom away , my dog is 6 pounds and we make sure it’s safe when we drive ie, not on your lap ! He sits on the floor because we make him ………. That’s all that should be required !
[…] — Wednesday, The Manatee reported that New Brunswick pets will have to start wearing seatbelts starting Sept. 1. The extreme public reaction following this news served to alert members of the New Brunswick SPCA […]
I for one am ecstatic. Now I no longer will have to argue with my dog wether she has to wear her seat belt. (Just turned 2, those crazy teen years eh!? Haha) Thanks govt!! You have saved the day!!!
Where do we get these seat belts don’t have any clue!
My dog is 4 pounds where do I find a seat belt for him
I bought mine at Amazon and it came in the mail
Although this is a joke, some if you may be interested in this:
http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/m/blog/pet-safety-dog-harness-crash-test-results
I think the government should go even further and ban all cats from cars that have passengers and small children in them. Too many people have an allergy to cat dander and a cat bite or scratch could cause an accident. Besides most cops don’t like cats. Want proof, have you ever seen a cat do anything useful as compared to K9 police dogs.
Next the government should prohibit race mixing of dogs in cars. No francophone should be allowed to transport Engish bull dogs, or any other English breeds and Anglophones should have their drivers licences taken away if they are caught in a vehicle with a French poodle!
This better include turtles. Imagine putting on the brakes and having a flying turtle projectile.
We have a small shitzu which we tie down to the seat belt connection. Is this OK.
Just shows the majority of people don’t read before passing judgment or commenting. ….
April 1st is passed! How can you introduce another by-law when you cannot control the ones that are already in place? We see lots of people still texting and talking on hand held phones. I think you are taking this one step too far. Are you that deperate for money? We have a dog sling that we have used for years, the dogs are confined to the back seat and won’t get hurt in a sudden stop. That was “our” choice. But to force us to seat belt our dogs in…I don’t think so!!!
Does it work for Pot Belly Pigs? Ling Ling loves to ride in the truck with me, but she has been confined to the back of the pick up truck because if there is and accident, I don’t need to be hit in the head by a flying pig.
She seems to like it because she can roam around the box while talking on her head set and surfing the net. I feel kind of bad for cooping her up in a sling in the cab with me.
By the way, what happens when I take a corner to quickly, will Ling Ling swing back and forth like a pendulum?
That that ain’t the only pig that rides with ya superstar