Add another mindless regulation to the books. This time NJ has decided to fine anyone driving a vehicle and not restraining their animal. How do you restrain a fish? How in the world did citizens in NJ manage to keep their pets alive when traveling in a car without the aid of big government. Not only can you be given a ticket by your local PO-leece but animal control can whip out their handy pad and cite you as well. Fido will no doubt be PISSED when you strap him down in the seat keeping him from wagging his tongue and sniffing the fresh air out the window. This is what busy body government looks like. This is what happens when governments are broke. The Blaze has the story:

Following on the heels of Mayor Bloomberg’s ban on certain sugary drinks in New York City restaurants, a wave of absurd regulations has seemingly begun emanating outwards.  In neighboring New Jersey, drivers can be fined up to $1000 for driving with “unrestrained” animals in the car, and the Mayor of Berkeley, California is looking to ban sitting on sidewalks.

According to CBS in Philadelphia, police and animal control officers will be authorized to ticket New Jersey drivers between $250 and $1,000 if they have “unrestrained” animals in the front seat of their car, on the driver’s lap, partially out the window, or even in the back of a pickup truck.

Dogs, apparently, should be placed in harnesses and then buckled in, and cats should go in a carrier which can be subsequently buckled in.

Ray Martinez, the head of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, says it is part of a larger “Click It or Ticket” effort to avoid distracted driving.

“It’s not cute,” he condemned.  “It’s actually dangerous for the driver.  It’s dangerous for other drivers and it’s dangerous for that pet.”

Ray, you really need to get yourself a real job and stop creating bureaucratic bullshit.

They keep chipping away at freedom. The herd just doesn’t see it.

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