1     
TRANSPORTATION OF DOGS

2     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Ashlee Matthews

5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill enacts provisions related to the transportation of dogs.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     defines terms;
13          ▸     restricts the transportation of dogs in the back of a truck under certain
14     circumstances;
15          ▸     imposes penalties; and
16          ▸     creates exemptions.
17     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18          None
19     Other Special Clauses:
20          None
21     Utah Code Sections Affected:
22     ENACTS:
23          18-3-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
24          18-3-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
25          18-3-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
26          18-3-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
27     


28     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
29          Section 1. Section 18-3-101 is enacted to read:
30     
CHAPTER 3. TRANSPORTATION OF DOGS ACT

31     
Part 1. General Provisions

32          18-3-101. Title.
33          This chapter is known as "Transportation of Dogs Act."
34          Section 2. Section 18-3-102 is enacted to read:
35          18-3-102. Definitions.
36          As used in this chapter:
37          (1) "Cross tethered" means having one leash secured from one side to the other of the
38     inside of the truck bed, and then fastening a separate leash perpendicular to the first leash,
39     allowing a dog to move side to side but preventing the dog from being able to move to the
40     outside edges of the truck.
41          (2) "Highway" means the same as that term is defined in Section 41-6a-102.
42          (3) "Hunting dog" means a canine that hunts with or on behalf of humans.
43          (4) "Pickup truck" means the same as that term is defined in Section 41-1a-102.
44          (5) "Truck" means a pickup truck or flatbed truck.
45          (6) "Working farm dog" means a canine that is bred or trained to herd or protect
46     livestock, poultry, or crops and that is used for at least one of those purposes.
47          Section 3. Section 18-3-201 is enacted to read:
48     
Part 2. Transportation of Dogs

49          18-3-201. Transportation of dogs in trucks -- Penalties.
50          (1) An individual may not travel in a truck on a highway with a dog in the back of the
51     truck unless:
52          (a) the speed limit of the highway is below 40 miles per hour;
53          (b) the space in the back of the truck is enclosed;
54          (c) the space in the back of the truck has side and tail racks to a height of at least 46
55     inches extending vertically from the floor of the truck bed;
56          (d) the dog is cross tethered to the truck; or
57          (e) the dog is protected by a secured container or cage.
58          (2) (a) A individual who violates this section as a first offense is guilty of an infraction.

59          (b) In the case of a second or subsequent violation of this section, an individual is
60     guilty of a class C misdemeanor.
61          Section 4. Section 18-3-202 is enacted to read:
62          18-3-202. Exemptions.
63          An individual transporting a hunting dog or working farm dog is exempt from this
64     chapter for purposes of transporting the hunting dog or working farm dog.