Pennsylvania Legislative Minutiae

Unfortunately, these add up and up and up, and people think it's reasonable for these things to be done.

I find even the idea of a "There ought to be a law" contest to be incredibly offensive --

Posted on Wed, Jul. 06, 2005

He'd have dogs riding safely in cars

Associated Press

GREEN TREE, Pa. - A Pennsylvania lawmaker is pushing for doggy seat belts on the advice of an 11-year-old constituent.

Marc McCann of Green Tree came up with the idea as part of state Rep. Tom Stevenson's annual "There Ought to be a Law" contest.

Stevenson, R-Allegheny, submitted a bill to the House Transportation
Committee in June that would require drivers to keep their dogs' heads inside the vehicle at all times. Stevenson also wants to require drivers to restrain the animals, either with some kind of modified seat belt or in a crate or carrier box.

"I never did like dogs sticking their heads out the window," said McCann, one of more than 500 students from Stevenson's district who proposed laws. "Maybe a sign might have been too close to the road and they'd get hit. Maybe they'd jump out the window on a highway."

Stevenson said the bill will protect "not only human lives, but pet lives. I think it's going to be a great idea because it's going to cut down on driver distractions."

I have seat-belt harness for my dog, and we use it sometimes. But it's pretty ridiculous to try and require it.