Is driving with your dog in your lap illegal in Illinois or Missouri? What state laws say
When driving to the vet or the park, you may wonder whether your pet is technically allowed to sit on your lap in transit.
In some states, driving with a dog in your lap is considered distracted driving and can carry fines and petty offenses.
It’s safer for your dog to ride in a crate, carrier or using a secured harness, the American Kennel Club advises. Securing your pet can protect you from distractions and also protect your pet from injury in case of an accident, according to insurance company Progressive.
Here’s what to know about laws regulating driving with your pet in the car in Illinois and Missouri.
What does Illinois law say about driving with a pet in your lap?
It is not illegal to drive with a pet in your lap in Illinois. There was a law introduced earlier this year aimed to make driving with your pet in your lap a petty offense, carrying a $50 fine, but it did not pass.
The proposed legislation, House Bill 2910, would not have allowed police officers to search or inspect a vehicle solely because the driver had an animal in their lap while driving.
Illinois legislators have tried to ban driving with animals in laps at least twice — another bill, introduced in 2013, would have instituted a $25 fine for the offense.
While it is not unlawful to drive with your dog in your lap in Illinois, if it is distracting you and causing you to swerve excessively or otherwise drive in an unsafe manner, there’s no guarantee you won’t be pulled over.
What about in Missouri?
While Missouri does not have a state law on the books banning people from driving with an animal in their lap, officials discourage it.
Pets can present a “dangerous distraction” to drivers, according to the Missouri Driver Guide, and state officials recommend using a carrier, crate or secured harness/pet seat belt for safety.
“Never allow your pet to sit on your lap while you are driving your vehicle,” the Missouri Driver Guide advises.
Like in Illinois and other states, drivers could be pulled over in Missouri if their pet distracts them and causes them to drive dangerously.
A Missouri law enforcement official told TV news station KY3 state law treats pet distractions just like other driving distractions, according to an article from 2021.
