Do Pets Need to Restrained in Vehicles While on Louisiana Roadways?

(KTDY) - A few days ago, I took our puppy with me to get the kids from school, and while I was driving, I asked myself if "Chuy" legally needed to be restrained while I was driving.

Often, you've seen people driving with their dog's head sticking out the window, or just sitting there. Do they need to be on a harness or restrained while the vehicle is moving?

Of course, in Louisiana, anytime we are in a moving vehicle, we are required by state law to wear our seat belts, but what about our pets? I'll say this: I have friends who do restrain their pets when they travel, and they do so to protect their fur babies from injury in the event they're in an automobile accident.

Do Pets Need to Be Restrained in Vehicles in Louisiana?

After I got home with the kids on the day I took Chuy with me for a ride, I looked online to see if there's a law in Louisiana requiring you and me to restrain our pets in moving vehicles. I found that there is currently no law requiring drivers to restrain or protect their pets while in a moving vehicle, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't.

Pet taxis or carriers are great when traveling with your pets, as they protect them in case of an accident and further restrain them from jumping on you. One concern about pets being loose in a moving vehicle is that they could jump onto you and obstruct your view.

Plus, if you are in an accident and your dog is in the front seat, airbags that may deploy can kill a small animal or child. Therefore, if you occasionally bring your pet for a ride, it is wise to always keep them in the back seat of the vehicle you are traveling in.

Now, I do want to acknowledge that dogs in pickup truck beds must be restrained or placed in carriers. The only exception is for dogs used for farming or ranching, they legally do not have to be restrained if in the bed of a moving truck

States That Require Pets to Be Restrained in Vehicles

We should note that while Louisiana may not require pets to be restrained in moving vehicles, some states do require drivers to restrain animals in moving vehicles. According to Orvis News, those states are: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Rhode Island.

Lastly, if a police officer deems that a loose pet in your vehicle was obstructing your view while you were driving, they can cite you for obstruction while operating a motor vehicle. And remember, Louisiana allows rescuers to break into a vehicle to save a pet in distress from heat or lack of ventilation, provided they follow specific procedures, such as contacting law enforcement first.