A pooch-loving driver in British Columbia learned a costly lesson about having a lap dog behind the wheel.
BC Highway Patrol said it handed a driver in Burnaby a $109 ticket for holding his dog while driving. it turns out, driving with the controls obstructed is illegal under the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act.
“Driving is a complex task. You need all of your attention for unexpected lane changes, pedestrians, weather and obstacles,” RCMP Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol said in a statement Tuesday.
“Having a dog on your lap is illegal and a minor collision could kill your best friend. It’s best if pets are belted in properly, ideally with a harness in the rear passenger seat, just like a human child,” he added.
The incident occurred on April 9 on Lougheed Highway near Production Way.
It also gave Mounties a reason to warn drivers about other common, but illegal obstructive driving behaviours.
- Mounting cell phone on the windshield
- Placing fuzzy dice, air fresheners or tissue boxes on or above the dashboard.
- Having blankets, privacy screens or tinting on passenger or driver’s windows that are behind the driver’s shoulder
“We want everyone to give driving the respect it deserves,” McLaughlin said. “You are much more likely to avoid a ticket and the physical and emotional consequences of a crash.”
After all, dogs really are our fur babies, too.
