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    Why You Should Buckle Up Your Pet when Driving

    By | Pets – Tue, Jun 5, 2012 4:05 PM EDT

    Do you buckle up your pet when driving?Do you buckle up your pet when driving?Do you buckle up your pet when you go for a ride? If you don't and you live in New Jersey, you just might face fines.

    The New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is cracking down on motorists who are traveling with unsecured animals. When you think about it, it makes sense.

    "You wouldn't put your child in the car unrestrained, so you shouldn't put your pet in the car unrestrained either," says Col. Frank Rizzo, superintendent of the NJSPCA.

    Related: 20 adorable moments between kids and their pets

    USA Today reports that under New Jersey state law, NJSPCA officers can stop a driver they believe is improperly transporting an animal. If officers find owners who aren't following proper safety procedure, they can issue tickets which range from $250 to $1,000 per offense.

    There are many common mistakes owners of all kinds of pets make when driving. "Of course a dog traveling on a driver's lap is bad. But so are dogs hanging their heads out of windows, birds traveling on a driver's shoulder or cats resting on a dashboard."

    There are several seat restraints for dogs available in pet stores now, but I admit I haven't purchased any. Living in New York, my dogs only go in the car for a short ride when they go the vet. If they were regular passengers, I would probably consider buying them. Honestly, I didn't even know it was a law until I read this article.

    Related: Dogs on Film: 25 of the most famous and beloved movie pups

    Of course, the main safety concern is distracted driving. It's very easy to take your eyes off the road for a second or two if you animal is moving around or acting up in the car. And it only takes a second to cause an accident.

    - By Danielle Sullivan
    Follow Danielle on Babble

    For 25 hilarious photos of dogs riding in cars, visit Babble!

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