Lawmakers in Rhode Island are currently considering legislation that would ban drivers from holding a dog on their laps while operating a moving motor vehicle, in an effort to reduce distracted driving. A bill has been submitted to the House Judiciary Committee proposes authorizing law enforcement officials to issue citations to motorists driving while holding dogs on their laps. The offense would be punishable by $85 fine for the first occurrence, a $100 fine for the second occurrence and a $125 fine for each additional occurrence.
According to a survey conducted by AAA based on answers from 1,000 dog owners who had driven with their dogs in the previous year, 21 percent of those surveyed admitted letting a dog sit in their laps while they drove and 31 percent admitted to being distracted from their driving responsibilities by having dog in the car, no matter where the dog rode. Lawmakers in Tennessee are also considering a similar prohibition on driving while holding a dog in your lap. The California legislature voted to pass a similar ban in 2008, but the governor would not sign the bill into law.
As a Ventura personal injury lawyer, I am well aware of the harm that can result when drivers even momentarily take their eyes and minds away from the road ahead of them. If you or a loved one has been hurt in an accident linked to distracted driving, please consider hiring a Ventura car accident attorney.
According to news sources, a recent warning issued by The Food and Drug Administration against chicken jerky dog treats imported from China came as a response to an increasing number of reports regarding dog illnesses associated with the products.
The warning is the third ever issued by the FDA in regards to the chicken jerky products. It correlates with a recent, 2011 spike in reports regarding dog illnesses in association with the chicken jerky products. The FDA has issued such warnings before, once in September 2007 and another time in December 2008. The recent warning comes in contrast to the last two years, when a drop off in the number of illnesses were reported.
The FDA has received over 350 reports of dog illnesses due to the consumption of chicken jerky products this year alone. The products were imported mainly from China.
Dog owners are encouraged to check with their veterinarian right away, if their dogs experience any severe side effects within 24 hours of consuming chicken jerky products.
As a Long Beach personal injury lawyer, I understand the inherent dangers of defective products and the risks they entail. I hope this information can help raise awareness among dog owners. If you or a loved one has been injured through the use or consumption of a defective product, speak with a personal injury attorney Long Beach to learn about the legal options available to you.
The project that hoped to bring a dog beach proposal to the Santa Monica area has been allegedly denied by the California State Parks, according to local news articles.
Despite all efforts, state officials claimed that a 6-1 vote from the Santa Monica City Council will not be enough to pull this project through. The movement Heal the Bay expressed severe concerns about the fecal bacteria that could be deliberately spread in the water because of the presence of dogs at the beach.
A meeting was held by the Community and Cultural Services so a memo could be furnished and delivered to the Santa Monica City Council demonstrating the many issues that could be directly linked to the creation of a dog beach.
The Director from the Community and Cultural Services has stated that the fear of threatening species in the sensitive ecosystem that the beach is may be the first and most important reason a dog beach should not be allowed to turn into a reality for the Santa Monica city.
Personal injury lawyers understand that a dog park could also cause major health risks to the safety of visitors and beach goers.
As a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer I hope that the city of Santa Monica will have its residents as well as the environment in mind when making a decision regarding this much talked about issue.
According to many news sources, the Los Angeles City Council is trying to find an effective way to deal with unlicensed dogs that happen to be a nuisance to the city residents. As stated by the articles, the law only allows inspectors to take any action against a dog’s license. Since much of the disturbance reported in the past is directly involved with unlicensed dogs, there isn’t much the authorities can do except to force owners to get their dogs licensed.
There is a new hearing scheduled in the City Council addressing the procedure and fine process related to problem animals. The suggested code permits officials to conduct hearings even if the owner of the dog causing troubles doesn’t have any type of license.
Owners of loud or violent dogs will be cited under the new code being proposed by officials. Dog owners who own animals with a history of biting and injuring others will also be restricted because their permit will change.
As a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer I’m familiar with tragic cases involving violent animals. I sincerely hope that this new code may help secure the lives of those who have been threatened by this problem before and if in any case you or a loved one is involved in a potential case regarding problem dogs, don’t hesitate and call a personal injury lawyer in your area.
Although traveling with your canine friends in the back of a pickup truck may seem easy and convenient, and perhaps even fun for the dog, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals strongly warns against it, according to recent news sources.
“When you drive with a loose dog in the back of your truck, you’re taking a huge risk and placing your dog and other motorists in danger,” says the vice president of a regional AAA. “Even if a dog is trained, we’re talking about an animal who responds to stimuli on impulse. This irresponsible decision can start a deadly chain reaction on the road.”
The practice of transporting unrestrained pets in low-sided truck beds has been outlawed in California, New Hampshire, and Indianapolis, Cheyenne, and Miami-Dade.
As a car accident attorney in Los Angeles, I hope that all pet owners will take steps to restrain their pets, both for the safety of the animal as well as for the safety of other drivers. In my experience as a personal injury lawyer, I’ve realized that often accidents are caused by external factors, such as maintenance issues or road blockages. By making sure you are keeping your pet safe, you are also keeping other motorists and yourself safe.
