Is it Legal in Colorado to Drive with a Dog on Your Lap?

There are all kinds of laws regarding safe driving in Colorado, and it's important to be knowledgeable in regards to them in order to avoid a ticket, as well as to be as safe as possible behind the wheel.

At the same time, there are all kinds of things we've heard over the years about supposed laws in the state of Colorado that make us scratch our heads and ask, "is that really illegal or just not smart?"

Keep scrolling as we explore the state's laws regarding driving a vehicle while a dog is sitting on your lap.

Is it Legal in Colorado to Drive with a Dog on Your Lap?

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When it comes down to it, in the state of Colorado, it is technically legal to let your dog sit on your lap while you're driving your car. However, take that with a grain of salt as there are laws that may affect the legality of man's best friend sharing the driver's seat with you.

For example, if the fact that your dog is sitting in your lap while you're driving is affecting your ability to maneuver safely by making you swerve or causing you to be distracted, you could get pulled over and ticketed for careless driving.

Overall though, Colorado is much more relaxed with these types of laws than other states.

While Hawaii is the only state in the country that has laws specifically prohibiting animals from sitting in your lap while driving, other states like Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island have laws regarding distracted driving and/or animal cruelty that could see you and your furry friend pulled to the side of the road and ticketed.

In conclusion, while it's not the safest thing to do, you could probably get away with letting your dog sit on your lap in the car as long as it's not affecting your safety or the safety of other motorists.

[Denver7]