House bill: Drivers in North Carolina could be fined for letting pets ride in lap while driving; Triad pet owners share their thoughts
State lawmakers say House Bill 394 cracks down on drivers who hold animals in their laps.
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House bill: Drivers in North Carolina could be fined for letting pets ride in lap while driving; Triad pet owners share their thoughts
State lawmakers say House Bill 394 cracks down on drivers who hold animals in their laps.
Updated: 8:54 PM EDT Mar 30, 2025
If you take your furry friend on car rides, driving with them in your lap might cost you.”I can see how it can be distracting,” Kennedy Weber, a local dog walker, said.State lawmakers say House Bill 394 cracks down on drivers who hold animals in their laps.Pet owners agree it can be dangerous.”Having that dog in your lap can hinder your sight while you're seeing,” Weber said.If approved, the bill says violators face a $100 fine. The proposal isn’t limited to pets on laps, it also applies to drivers distracted by animals and children, causing reckless driving.State data from 2017 to 2022 shows that distracted driving is blamed for almost 50,000 crashes in North Carolina annually. In 2022, distractions were linked to one in six crashes statewide, making distracted driving one of the most common causes.The House Transportation Committee unanimously advanced the bill this week. If approved by the full legislature, it will become law in December.
If you take your furry friend on car rides, driving with them in your lap might cost you.
“I can see how it can be distracting,” Kennedy Weber, a local dog walker, said.
State lawmakers say House Bill 394 cracks down on drivers who hold animals in their laps.
Pet owners agree it can be dangerous.
“Having that dog in your lap can hinder your sight while you're seeing,” Weber said.
If approved, the bill says violators face a $100 fine.
The proposal isn’t limited to pets on laps, it also applies to drivers distracted by animals and children, causing reckless driving.
State data from 2017 to 2022 shows that distracted driving is blamed for almost 50,000 crashes in North Carolina annually. In 2022, distractions were linked to one in six crashes statewide, making distracted driving one of the most common causes.
The House Transportation Committee unanimously advanced the bill this week.
If approved by the full legislature, it will become law in December.
