New Hampshire state consultant Jennifer Rhodes was out lately when she noticed a younger woman almost get run over by a automobile. What made the occasion notably galling was that the person driving the automobile was holding two canine with one hand, and petting them with the opposite.

Regardless of the clear stupidity of the state of affairs, mockingly, she discovered herself in a little bit of an Air Bud state of affairs—there is no such thing as a particular regulation towards driving with pets in your lap in New Hampshire. So Rhodes determined to draft one. The proposed invoice, although, is drawing a number of controversy.

“I assumed it was a no brainer,” Rhodes advised the Related Press. “I by no means in my wildest goals thought that this may grow to be one of many extra controversial payments of the session, however by God, right here we’re.”

Though solely Hawaii has a regulation that particularly bans the follow of permitting animals onto a driver’s lap, many have extra common legal guidelines that will enable authorities to punish these drivers. It ought to maybe not have stunned Rhodes, although, that New Hampshirites are against restrictions on the street.

Learn: New Volvo Examine Makes Sturdy Case In opposition to Unrestrained Pets

New Hampshire Is The Solely American State That Doesn’t Require A Seatbelt For Anybody Over 18

The state is the one one left within the nation wherein grownup occupants are usually not legally required to put on seatbelts in a transferring automobile. It’s such an outlier that the CDC has developed a pamphlet particularly to deal with the state’s seatbelt use. And, certainly, as phrase obtained round, the state legislature obtained letters from indignant constituents.

“If I’m driving my in poor health canine (or cat, or different pet) to the vet for medical consideration or to be euthanized, you may guess your backside greenback that I’ll have (and have had) that animal in my lap for that probably ultimate journey with them,” one particular person wrote in a letter. “Please keep out of individuals’s vehicles and let folks have a small slice of happiness within the sanctity of their very own autos.”

Rhodes argues that the brand new regulation is focused particularly at pets on laps as a result of she didn’t need to be too common. In contrast to in New Jersey, the place pets have to be secured with a restraint, the proposed regulation in New Hampshire has only one requirement of pet house owners.

“In order for you your canine to be within the backseat and have his head out the window, nice. You need your canine to be within the passenger seat up there with you? That’s nice. All we’re attempting to do is say that the canine shouldn’t be in your particular person in any respect,” Rhodes mentioned.

Regardless of the indignant drivers who wrote into the state legislature, Rhodes does have some supporters. Cheshire County Sheriff Eli Rivera advised the state Home Transportation Committee lately that he has a number of expertise with pets on laps.

“I’ve seen canine working backwards and forwards between the entrance seat, the again seat, looking one window, looking the opposite window. I’ve seen drivers holding a pet with their left hand, they usually’re attempting to look over the canine as they’re driving down the street,” he mentioned. “It does trigger a hazard.”

Whereas Rhodes understands that individuals have robust emotions about their pets, she says that this regulation isn’t an try and undermine that relationship.

“They assume that I’m in some way punishing them, after I don’t have a look at this as punishment in any approach, form or type,” mentioned Rhodes. “I’m taking a look at it as the security of the pet.”