Is It Illegal to Drive With Your Dog on Your Lap in Michigan?
Michiganders love their dogs so much that sometimes they can't even drive to the store without their furry companion sitting on their lap.
We see it all the time, someone driving down the road with their dog sitting on their lap with its head hanging out the window. It's super cute...but is it legal?
The other day I was out running some errands and I noticed a woman driving with her dog on her lap. Normally when you see this it's a little dog and you don't think twice about it. This was a different scenario as she was driving with what looked like a golden retriever on her lap. This dog was so big that the woman had to stretch her neck up and out just so she could see over him. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
After witnessing this woman and the giant dog on her lap, I started to wonder if what she was doing was legal. I honestly had never thought about it before.
Is it Legal to Drive With Your Dog on Your Lap in Michigan?
As of right now, there is only one state where it's against the law to drive with your pet on your lap, and that's Hawaii. However, you could get a ticket for reckless driving if the pet on your lap causes you to get into an accident.
SEE ALSO: Is It Against the Law to Drive Barefoot in the State of Michigan?
Back in 2017, Michigan State Representative LaTanya Garrett introduced a bill that would make it illegal for Michigan drivers to drive a vehicle with a dog on their lap. That bill obviously didn't pass.