AN ACT restricting the transportation of dogs in the open bed or open cargo area of a vehicle and instructing the department of transportation to conduct a study on dog safety.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 20‑135.2B reads as rewritten:

§ 20‑135.2B.  Transporting children under 16 years of age or dogs in open bed or open cargo area of a vehicle prohibited; exceptions.

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(b1)      The operator of a vehicle having an open bed or open cargo area shall ensure a dog is not transported in the bed or cargo area of that vehicle unless the dog is (i) under the physical control of a person other than the vehicle operator, (ii) humanely secured in a cage or other container, or (iii) humanely restrained by a harness manufactured for the purpose of restraining animals.

(c)        Any person violating this section shall have committed an infraction and shall pay a penalty of not more than twenty‑five dollars ($25.00), even if more than one child less than 16 years of age or dog is riding in the open bed or open cargo area of a vehicle. A person found responsible for a violation of this section may not be assessed court costs.

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SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the Highway Fund to the Department of Transportation the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2022‑2023 fiscal year to study issues related to the safe transportation of dogs. The Department of Transportation shall submit the findings of the study to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division by January 31, 2023.

SECTION 3.  Section 1 of this act becomes effective December 1, 2022, and applies to infractions committed on or after that date. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.