Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety
Governator vetos ban on lap-dogs while driving
California recently banned talking on cellphones, and then followed up by making texting illegal, while driving. For a moment there, it was looking like all you were going to be able to do behind the wheel in California was, you know, drive. But thanks to the dedication of Governor Schwarzenegger, individual freedoms have not been extinguished. Promising to only sign bills that are "the highest priority for California," Arnie vetoed a bill that would ban driving with dogs in your lap.
While we understand the spirit of the veto -- California does have much bigger issues to deal with than lapdogs -- we do sometimes wonder why a 40-pound kid has to be in a child seat, but a 40-pound, unpredictable animal can take a nap between you and the steering wheel.
[Source: AP, | Photo CC | Credit: Katrinkles]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
MachinaDC5 7:37PM (9/29/2008)
Good. If you're the kind of person who drives a car around with a dog on his/her lap then frankly there should be a bill that makes it acceptable for other drivers to hit you in the face with a two-by-four whenever you exit your vehicle.
Reply
James 1:26AM (9/30/2008)
I wholly support this idea.
In fact, I'm going to keep a 2x4 in the trunk of my 'vette for just this reason! :D
Mark 1:36PM (9/30/2008)
lovely
Frank 7:38PM (9/29/2008)
This for sure raises a few concerns. What if the driver can not control the dog and next thing you know he\she crashes into a pregnant lady who is pushing a stroller with two twin babies. Does that not want to make you pass it. Hell, it's annoying when I see people driving with their mutts. Ban them ASAP!!!!! Let the mutt stay at home!!!!!
Reply
jordan 9:44AM (9/30/2008)
Hopefully I'm missing your extremeism (yea, I think I made that up :D), but you could take that angle on almost anything we do today, so draw your lines carefully.
"zomg, you're driving a 2-ton piece of metal around...what if you have to swerve to miss a head-on collision and then you run into a pedestrian! ban all cars to save our pedestrians!"
CarlosMC 10:32AM (9/30/2008)
Well, put it this way: if you crash, the dog will be crushed between the driving wheel and you and die, or blown by the airbag, and die, or both (and die... - or, at least, be severely injured) and that wouldn't be a very humane thing to expose a pet to, would it?
Otherwise, unlike cellphones, you can't control a pet; what if he pees on you or hits a control, jumps around and cuts your vision, etc.?
Arnold surely has better things to worry about ...than road safety in Cali!
Luke 7:40PM (9/29/2008)
"we do sometimes wonder why a 40-pound kid has to be in a child seat, but a 40-pound, unpredictable animal can take a nap between you and the steering wheel."
...because it isn't as big a deal if a dog dies?
Reply
Rich 8:08PM (9/29/2008)
...or a dog owner?
Vette 9:57PM (9/29/2008)
...or the person crossing the street you didn't see as you calmed your puppy down
James 1:27AM (9/30/2008)
Funny, the media and a whole bunch of whiny bastards seemed to think otherwise when the dude tossed the yappy dog out of that lady's car after she rear-ended him.
CarlosMC 11:50AM (9/30/2008)
Maybe he should've tossed the driving lady, since the dog seems the least guilty part in there.
Torrent 7:42PM (9/29/2008)
IMO, it's just as distracting as being on your cell phone.
Who would be focused on the road when this giant furball is flying around the cabin-barking at every passerby?
Reply
Craig 7:47PM (9/29/2008)
There's a guy around here that drives around with a freaking German Shepherd in his lap.
Cell phones do not behave unpredictably. Dogs do. In my mind, they're more dangerous. I'm not against dogs in cars. But I am against loose dogs in cars. Either crate them or use one of those seatbelt harnesses. If not for your safety, than for the dogs (they can fly into/through the windshield in an accident).
Reply
Frank 7:50PM (9/29/2008)
Or sell your prius and by a small truck and put your mutt in the back bed. Then we'll be happy
NightmareMX6 8:04PM (9/29/2008)
Dogs in your lap are more distracting then any cell phone. Dogs are as stated unpredictable and move around a lot. I love dogs but leave the dog at home or put it in a kennel. You wouldn't drive with your kid in your lap why would you have your dog there?
Reply
Sid 8:15PM (9/29/2008)
Where is Autoblog getting all these 80s buick interior pics from anyway?
Reply
Niels 8:31PM (9/29/2008)
The dog looks more Buick-ish than that interior. It looks a bit Euro to me.
catgirlshyla 8:29PM (9/29/2008)
Flickr, Wiki Commons.....
Andrew L 9:50PM (9/29/2008)
is that a Saab?
Lou 10:06PM (9/29/2008)
Yes, I believe it is a SAAB...mid 80ish??? And yes, strap the mutt in a seatbelt harness. Protects the dog plus any humans...a dog flying around the cabin could cause serious injuries.