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.
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9535
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 14, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. KASSAY -- read once and referred 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:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
section 1222-a to read as follows:
§ 1222-A. TRANSPORTATION OF DOGS; ENCLOSURE OR RESTRAINT REQUIREMENTS.
1. NO PERSON SHALL OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE AS DEFINED IN SECTION ONE
HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER WHILE TRANSPORTING A DOG IN THE BACK
OF SUCH MOTOR VEHICLE IN A SPACE INTENDED FOR ANY LOAD, UNLESS:
(A) 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;
(B) THE MOTOR VEHICLE HAS INSTALLED MEANS OF PREVENTING THE DOG FROM
BEING EJECTED; OR
(C) 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.
2. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO:
(A) THE TRANSPORTATION OF A DOG BY ITS OWNER, WHO EITHER OWNS OR IS
EMPLOYED BY A RANCHING OR FARMING OPERATION AND IS TRAVELING ON A ROAD
IN A RURAL AREA OR IS TRAVELING TO OR FROM A LIVESTOCK AUCTION;
(B) THE TRANSPORTATION OF A DOG FOR PURPOSES ASSOCIATED WITH RANCHING
OR FARMING; OR
(C) THE TRANSPORTATION OF A DOG ON ROADWAYS WITH A SPEED LIMIT UNDER
FIFTY-FIVE MILES PER HOUR.
3. (A) THE FIRST CONVICTION OF A VIOLATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
SECTION SHALL RESULT IN A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN FIFTY DOLLARS NOR MORE
THAN ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
(B) THE SECOND CONVICTION WITHIN A YEAR OF A VIOLATION OF THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL RESULT IN A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN
SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS NOR MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02745-01-5
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