Burnaby driver hit with traffic ticket thanks to his furry friend

A Burnaby driver was hit with a traffic ticket for distracted driving because he had a furry friend on his lap while operating his vehicle.

BC Highway Patrol shared details about the incident and a picture of the furry friend involved.

The driver was travelling on Lougheed Highway near Production Way in Burnaby and was issued a ticket of $109 because he was holding his dog while driving.

“Keep your windshield free of distractions, your hands on your wheel, and your dog secured in a passenger seat,” BC Highway Patrol said in a statement.

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BC Highway Patrol

A statement from the BC Highway Patrol’s media relations officer, Corporal Michael McLaughlin, says that drivers should treat their pet friends like a child.

“Having a dog on your lap is illegal, and a minor collision could kill your best friend. It’s best if pets are belted in properly, ideally with a harness in the rear passenger seat, just like a human child.”

The BC Highway Patrol also points out other ways where distracted driving might be a reality, like mounting a cell phone on the windshield, hanging fuzzy dice, air fresheners, tissue boxes, “and anything else that can obstruct your view through the windshield.”

We want everyone to give driving the respect it deserves, McLaughlin added.

You are much more likely to avoid a ticket and the physical and emotional consequences of a crash.