Maryland General Assembly: HB134 Transporting Pets (and wives) in trucks
Hat Tip: Mrs. Owl
Earlier today Mrs. Owl emailed me a PDF copy of “News and Views You can Use,” distributed by Equiery. I cannot find the newsletter on the Equiery web site…
Mrs. Owl wrote “One of several silly aspects of legislation I'm sure,” as she called to my attention commentary on HB134…
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Upon reading the newsletter I found the column of which Mrs. Owl was referring on page one: “Maryland General Assembly Session: Opened like a lamb, now roaring like a lion,” by Nancy Hill. She calls to our attention “HB134 - Vehicle laws, Transporting pets in trucks or trailers.”
Ms. Hill writes, “What is quirky about this bill is that ‘people’ over the age of sixteen are allowed by state law to ride in the back of an open truck. As one Senator said, ‘If this bill passes, I'd have to put the dog in the front with me and my wife in the back of the truck.’ […]”
Snip
I looked up HOUSE BILL 134 (File Code: Vehicle Laws - Rules of the Road
Prior Year Introduction As: HB 132/97 – CGM) and sure enough the synopsis of the bill reads:
“Prohibiting a person from transporting pets in or on a truck or trailer on a highway unless the truck or trailer is enclosed on the sides and the top in a manner that safely prevents the pet from falling, jumping, or otherwise exiting the truck or trailer or unless the pet is confined by a device designed to safely prevent the pet from falling, jumping, or otherwise exiting the truck or trailer; providing that a violation of the Act is not considered a moving violation for specified purposes; defining "pet"; etc.”
The bill was introduced by: Delegate Kevin Kelly, District 1B; Delegate Kathleen M. Dumais, District 15; Delegate Susan K. McComas, District 35B; Delegate Christopher B. Shank, District 2B; and Delegate Michael D. Smigiel, Sr., District 36
And by the way – it passed the House on third reader on March 20, 2008 (127-7)
To sure, a quick search on the internet indicates that a number of state and local governments throughout the nation have such dog tethering laws on the books…
Hey, I’m just as sappy about pets, animals, and dogs as the next person…
Nevertheless, considering the economy; the dynamic that Maryland is currently engaged in driving folks and businesses out of the state with a new and improved version of tax-hell; and last, but not least, are the recent statistics that Maryland is one of the most dangerous states in the union - - is protecting dogs while they ride in a truck what we really need our legislators to be doing these days.
I’m just asking?
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