H. B. 4333


(By Delegate Davis)
[Introduced February 11, 1998; referred to the
Committee on Roads and Transportation.]




A BILL to amend article fifteen, chapter seventeen-c of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated section fifty, relating to prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle which is open in the back with an unrestrained animal; and providing criminal penalties.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article fifteen, chapter seventeen-c of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section fifty, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 15. EQUIPMENT.
§17C-15-50. Restraining device required for animals in open vehicles.
Every driver who transports an animal in an open passenger automobile, van or pickup truck, shall, while the motor vehicle is in motion and operated on a street or highway of this state, provide for the protection of the animal by properly placing, maintaining and securing the animal in an animal restraining safety device system meeting safety standards promulgated by the commissioner.
Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than twenty dollars nor more than fifty dollars.


NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the transportation of unrestrained animals in the back of an open motor vehicle.

This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.