Proposed law would ban Fido from drivers' laps

Lori Ann Mariotti was at the Fort Gratiot dog park Wednesday with Taz, her BCF — Best Canine Friend.

Taz is 4 years old and a cockapoo-Old English sheepdog mix — and he has his own special seat in the back of Mariotti's SUV.

"He would love to be in my lap at all times," she said. "But I want to keep him safe and myself safe."

State Rep. LaTanya Garrett, D-Detroit, has proposed a bill that would make it a civil infraction with a first-time fine of $100 if drivers are caught with a dog on their lap. The fine for subsequent violations would be $200.

"We wouldn't drive with babies in our laps, so why is it OK for dogs?" she said in a Detroit Free Press article.

Mariotti said confining dogs to the back seat, where Taz rides, is a good idea.

"Honestly, I think you're risking your life and theirs if something happens," she said. "And anything can happen at any time."

She said she wouldn't want to think about the injuries to a small dog caught between a driver and a deploying airbag.

"I thought about that proposal, and they shouldn't be in your lap," she said.

According to a 2016 survey by AAA Michigan, about half of drivers say they pet their dog or cat while driving; another 39 percent allow dogs to stick their heads our of windows; and 32 percent allow dogs to roam around the vehicle while it is on motion.

Katie Phelan, a licensed veterinary technician and director of the Blue Water Humane Society, said dogs should not ride on drivers' laps.

"Dogs can be a distraction to you, especially if they are sitting on your lap," she said. "God forbid you ever get in an accident and the airbag deploys. You can really seriously injure or kill a tiny dog."

She said her personal dogs ride in the back seat of her vehicle in crates.

"I have little guys, and I feel it is safest if I am going someplace to make sure they are secure," she said.

"They have a bed, a blanket and a toy and they're not distracting me," she said. "You're driving safer that way, too, with no distractions.

"You wouldn't put your toddler in your lap and drive your car," she said. "That's how I look at it, too."

Port Huron Police Lt. Brian Georgia said there are several issues with unrestrained dogs and dogs sitting on drivers' laps.

"All it takes is a few seconds for a frightened or excited animal to jump up within your field of vision," he said. "Your ability to properly steer the vehicle could be affected."

He said having an animal on your lap also could keep people from seeing approaching vehicles and motorcycles while turning right.

The dog also could end up on the floor in an emergency situation, he said, hindering operation of the brakes or accelerator.

Unrestrained dogs or dogs sitting in a lap could become a missile during an accident. According to the AAA, a 10-pound dog would weigh the equivalent of about 496 pounds during a 50-mph crash.

"I saw something on the Internet, and it must be a new trend, that they now are making restraint devices for animals that are similar to human restraint devices," Georgia said.

"Obviously, I would think the back seat would be the safest place with one of these new restraint devices."

Contact Bob Gross at (810) 989-6263 or rgross@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobertGross477.

Restraining Fido