Can You Legally Drive With A Dog In Your Lap In Iowa, Illinois, Or Wisconsin?

We see it all the time.

This weekend, I saw a lady turning onto 53rd in Davenport off of the interstate and she had a little dog in her lap. This dog was halfway out the window and leaning, definitely looking like it was about to jump into traffic. She struggled to get a better handle on it while trying to navigate a tight turn.

Luckily the pup didn't jump out the window but it makes you wonder how driving with a dog in your lap is even legal. Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin all have different takes on this so here's what to know in case your pup is traveling with you for the holidays.

Illinois

Illinois isn't fine with it. In Illinois, you could face a fine if you're caught driving with your pup on your lap. According to state legislation from 2014, you could get a petty fine of up to $25 for driving with a dog on your lap. But there is an exception. If you're operating a commercial vehicle or an agriculture vehicle, it won't apply to you. It also says officers can't stop you solely because you have a pup on your lap.

Iowa

The biggest issue with driving with a pet in your lap is obviously that you're driving distracted, period. Iowa doesn't have anything specific in place for driving with a dog on your lap but according to Go Pet Friendly, it can have penalties for driving with an obstructed view, which a squirmy pet could cause. Distracted driving penalties in Iowa can be a simple misdemeanor, with fines up to $100.50, according to drivinglaws.org.

Wisconsin

According to Drive With Us, Wisconsin's laws sound similar to Iowa's on this issue. Wisconsin doesn't have a specific law against driving with a dog in your lap but it can count as distracted driving. If you violate this, you could face a fine of nearly $200 and 4 demerit points added to your license.

Anytime I've had to travel with my pets, they're safe and secure in the back seat. It's always nice to have our pets with us but they have to stay out of our laps and away from the steering wheel when we're trying to drive. If they're in your lap to get a pup cup at a coffeehouse, make sure you put them back secure before you hit the road again.