WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor

Ch. 296

CHAPTER 296

(Senate Bill 322)

AN ACT concerning

Vehicle Laws - Leaving Cats and Dogs
in Motor Vehicles - Police Dogs and Other Animals

FOR the purpose of prohibiting any person from using any force to
remove from a motor vehicle an on duty police dog or a cat
or dog in the custody of an animal control officer; and
providing that certain provisions of law relating to
unattended vehicles do not apply to law enforcement officers
and animal control officers under certain circumstances.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Transportation
Section 21-1004.1 and 21-1101
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1987 Replacement Volume)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Transportation

21-1004.1.

(a)  A person may not leave a cat or dog unattended in a
standing or parked motor vehicle in a manner that endangers the
health or safety of the cat or dog.

(b)   [A] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS
SECTION, A person may use reasonable force to remove from a motor
vehicle a cat or dog left in the vehicle in violation of the
provisions of subsection (a) of this section if the person is:

(1)  A law enforcement officer;

(2)  A public safety employee of the State or of a
local governing body;

(3)  An animal control officer under the jurisdiction
of the State or a local governing body;

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