Tenn. lawmaker says dogs need seatbelts

WKRN ^ | 03/01/2011 | WKRN

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee drivers may soon have to start strapping their pets into a seatbelt with driving.

Under a bill sponsored by Rep. Jim Cobb, dogs or other animals must be restrained while in the interior of a motor vehicle in motion.

According to the Spring City Republican, not only can it be distracting for drivers to have a pet roaming around a vehicle, it could be potentially dangerous for them.

Jessie Medina is the general manager at the PETCO store in Bellevue and told Nashville's News 2 there are already plenty of products available.

[paulycy]

I’m deeply concerned about proper hamster restraints.

[Joe 6-pack]

WOOOF!

The Doggie Ping list is for FReepers who would like to be notified of threads relating to all things canid. If you would like to join the Doggie Ping Pack (or be unleashed from it), FReemail me.

[jagusafr]

Nothing annoys me more while driving than seeing some driver with a dog on his/her lap. I don’t care how cute little Prissy is, IT’S DANGEROUS.

Colonel, USAFR

[ICE-FLYER]

The idiot representative needs to be laughed at publically. Run out of office. Never given authority again and held as an example of power run amok!

[jagusafr]

Well, there’s a certain segment that would sit on it, I guess...

Colonel, USAFR

[Joe 6-pack]

IIRC, it was Tennessee where, a few years ago a family on vacation was pulled over because their vehicle matched the description of a robbery suspect. The family was hauled out of the car and placed on the ground with the vehicle doors left open. The family begged the police to close the doors so their dog wouldn't jump out. Their dog, a boxer, (id'd by the police as a "pit bull" of course) jumped out of the car and was shot.

So I suppose by that precedent, restraining your dog in the car is actually more hazardous to the animal since it's harder to hit a moving target.

[Texas resident]

Ok now if they are going to treat dogs as humans, who gets the ticket?

I saw a picture of a billboard up in Canada years ago.

“If you love your children, belt them.”

classic.

[trisham]

This idiot needs to be removed from office immediately.

******************************

Agreed.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I presume he's already cashed his check from Petco's lobbyist.

[org.whodat]

It is also ignorant and stupid.

[Osage Orange]

This guy needs tarred and feathered....

He's too stupid to be an elected official.

[sionnsar]

PETCO store in Bellevue and told Nashville's News 2 there are already plenty of products available.

Sounds like somebody's been lobbying for more business.

[Politicalmom]

I had a black lab. She chewed through her harness, then proceeded on all the seat belts. It cost me hundreds to replace them all, and that was probably 15 years or more ago.

[Responsibility2nd]

Both of my vehicles are SUV’s. And both come available with an optional restraint harness (seat belt if you will) for dogs.

Can only imagine this doofus will soon be proposing a bill requiring all cars to have this as MANDATORY!

[Osage Orange]

Nothing?

[stuartcr]

Without thumbs, it’s going to be really hard for them to use seat belts.

[jagusafr]

Virtually nothing. I’m a municipal court judge and have seen so many stupid things come through my court that I’m pretty immune.

So, yeah.

Colonel, USAFR

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Your Statement: "This idiot needs to be removed from office immediately."

Response: Only after being stripped naked and whipped out of the legislative hall.

[goat granny]

A conservative would tell the government its none of their business about wether I should strap in my dog or not. How many have been killed by not having a seat belt on their dogs. With the millions of dogs in car’s everyday across this country, it better be a huge number or shut the heck up.

[Oldpuppymax]

Is Cobb a Rat or a Republican? And does he have money invested in doggie seatbelt companies, or is he just a congenital moron?