Police issue safety warning after pet owner nabbed for driving with dog on lap

A dog owner was ticketed for driving with his pet on his lap in Burnaby, B.C. (Courtesy: BC Highway Patrol)

Police are urging drivers to keep their pets safely secured while on the road after a man in Burnaby, B.C., was allegedly caught driving with his pooch in his lap.

The man had been travelling Lougheed Highway, near Production Way, while holding his dog when he was stopped and issued a ticket for driving with controls obstructed, the BC Highway Patrol said in a statement on Tuesday.

The April 9 incident landed the man a $109 fine.

Cpl. Michael McLaughlin reminds motorists that driving while holding a pet isn’t just unsafe for both who are behind the wheel, it is illegal.

“Driving is a complex task. You need all of your attention for unexpected lane changes, pedestrians, weather and obstacles,” he said.

“A minor collision could kill your best friend.”

Pets should be belted in properly, ideally with a harness in the rear passenger seat, “just like a human child,” said McLaughlin.

Police are also warning the public of other driving behaviours that are often regarded as being frowned upon but are in fact illegal, like having a cellphone mounted on the windshield, or having fuzzy dice, large air fresheners, tissue boxes or any other items on a windshield that can obstruct a driver’s view.

A car’s driver and passenger windows being obscured by blankets, privacy screens or tinting is also illegal, police warn.

“We want everyone to give driving the respect it deserves,” said Cpl. McLaughlin.

“You are much more likely to avoid a ticket and the physical and emotional consequences of a crash.”