WASHINGTON – Fido can fetch, heel and stay. And if a New Jersey lawmaker has her way, it will be dog owners who have to obey a new law requiring them to buckle up their pets on car trips.

And no, the proposal was not inspired by the often-repeated story of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney strapping the family dog’s crate to the roof of the car during a 1983 vacation.

Rather, the legislation stems from concern that loose pets, such as dogs riding on motorists’ laps, can be “more of a distraction than a cell phone, especially if the animal is hopping from seat to seat, trying to sit on your lap, or worse, jump down by your feet,” said its sponsor, Assemblywoman L. Grace Spencer, a Democrat – and dog owner.

“I have a small dog and I know how distracting they can be when driving,” she said in a statement.

The issue of unrestrained pets in cars has made headlines before. A driver in South Dakota was pulled over for having 15 cats loose in her car after nearly backing into a police car. More here.

Do you take your pets with you in the car? Do you think this is reasonable legislation?

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