Prohibits the transportation of dogs in the back of a motor vehicle intended for any load unless such space is enclosed or has side and tail racks to a height of not less than forty-six inches extending vertically from the floor; the motor vehicle has installed means of preventing the dog from being ejected; or the dog is cross-tethered to the vehicle or is protected by a secured container or cage, in a manner which will prevent the dog from being ejected from the motor vehicle; imposes fines for violations.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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675
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE(Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
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Introduced by Sen. MARTINEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the trans-
portation of dogs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
2 section 1222-a to read as follows:
3 § 1222-a. Transportation of dogs; enclosure or restraint requirements.
4 1. No person shall operate a motor vehicle as defined in section one
5 hundred twenty-five of this chapter while transporting a dog in the back
6 of such motor vehicle in a space intended for any load, unless:
7 (a) such space is enclosed or has side and tail racks to a height of
8 not less than forty-six inches extending vertically from the floor;
9 (b) the motor vehicle has installed means of preventing the dog from
10 being ejected; or
11 (c) the dog is cross-tethered to the vehicle or is protected by a
12 secured container or cage, in a manner which will prevent the dog from
13 being ejected from the motor vehicle.
14 2. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
15 (a) the transportation of a dog by its owner, who either owns or is
16 employed by a ranching or farming operation and is traveling on a road
17 in a rural area or is traveling to or from a livestock auction;
18 (b) the transportation of a dog for purposes associated with ranching
19 or farming; or
20 (c) the transportation of a dog on roadways with a speed limit under
21 fifty-five miles per hour.
22 3. (a) The first conviction of a violation of the provisions of this
23 section shall result in a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more
24 than one hundred dollars.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02745-01-5
S. 675 2
1 (b) The second conviction within a year of a violation of the
2 provisions of this section shall result in a fine of not less than
3 seventy-five dollars nor more than two hundred dollars.
4 (c) The third and subsequent convictions within a year of the
5 provisions of this section shall result in a fine of not less than one
6 hundred dollars nor more than two hundred fifty dollars for each such
7 conviction.
8 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
