Bill that would have banned Illinois drivers from having pet on lap didn't pass | Fact check
The claim: It’s illegal to drive with a pet on your lap in Illinois; violators face a $50 fine
A June 27 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) claims a recent law in a Midwest state prevents pet lovers from driving while snuggled up to their furry companions.
“Attention Pet Lovers: It is now ILLEGAL to drive with your pet on your lap in Illinois,” reads the post from a page for attorney Paul Whitcombe. “$50 fine!!!”
The post was shared more than 2,500 times in two days.
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Our rating: False
An Illinois House bill that would have made it illegal to drive with a pet on your lap was introduced during the 2023 House session but failed to become law.
Measure failed to pass House, sponsor pledges to continue effort
House Bill 2910 was introduced in February and sought to ban drivers from operating a vehicle with an animal in their lap. Violators would be guilty of a petty offense and face a $50 fine.
The bill passed unanimously in the House Transportation Committee in March and went to the House floor, as reported by WCIA-TV in Champaign, Illinois.
But the bill failed to pass, with a 97-6 vote condemning it on a third reading in the House, according to its bill history.
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The bill’s sponsor, Democratic Rep. Jawaharial Williams, confirmed to Paste BN it did not pass the House and is not current Illinois law.
“However, I do plan to propose the bill once more in the future,” he said. “I see this as an unforeseen hazard that God forbid may lead to something terrible, which I am simply trying to avoid.”
A similar measure was unsuccessfully introduced in 2013.
When reached for comment by Paste BN, the user who shared the post said the information was incorrect. This was noted in a new post, but the original post retained the false claim.
Our fact-check sources:
- Illinois General Assembly, accessed June 29, Bill Status of HB2910
- Illinois General Assembly, accessed June 29, Illinois Vehicle Code
- Jawaharial Williams, June 29, Email exchange with Paste BN
- WCIA-TV, March 15, Illinois bill would make driving with your pet in your lap illegal
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