Is driving with a dog in your lap legal in Maine?

In Maine, driving with a dog in your lap is considered a distraction and is deemed unsafe. This is because having a pet in such a position can interfere with the driver's ability to operate the vehicle effectively and may lead to an increased risk of accidents. The state prioritizes road safety and recognizes that distractions can come in various forms, including having an animal in a position that impairs driving. Regulations are designed to ensure that drivers maintain full control of their vehicles, and having a pet in the lap significantly hampers this ability.

While some may think that securing the dog could make it permissible, or that specific rural areas or times would allow for such behavior, the overall emphasis is on reducing distractions to enhance safety for all road users. Therefore, it is essential to secure pets in a manner that keeps them safe while also ensuring that they do not obstruct the driver's operation of the vehicle.