Law For Pets In Hot Cars Changes In Harford County

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — The Harford County Council passed an emergency measure this spring strengthening the penalties for animal cruelty when it comes to leaving pets in hot vehicles. Those who leave pets unattended in vehicles when the outside temperature is above 70 degrees can be cited. Fines for violating the law have also increased.

"If a dog is inside a vehicle and it's 70 degrees or more, you're going to get a citation," Animal Control Manager Kevin Cajigas said.

Previously, the law in Harford County made it a crime to leave an animal unattended in a vehicle when the temperature outside was above 80 degrees.

In addition to lowering the threshold temperature, Harford County raised the fines for those who leave animals in hot cars.

Here are the penalties for leaving an animal inside a vehicle when it's hotter than 70 degrees:

• First offense: $50 (it used to be $30)
• Second offense: $150 (up from $100)
• Third offense: $500 (up from $150)

The council passed the measure May 28, and it was signed by the county executive May 29, at which point it became law. It took effect as emergency legislation, "necessary to prevent injury or death of animals and to ensure the public's health, safety and welfare."

If a law enforcement officer or agent of the Humane Society of Harford County sees an animal in a car when it is above 70 degrees outside, that person has the authority to "take reasonable steps to free the animal from the vehicle."

The exception to the rule about not leaving animals in hot cars is a K-9 officer or other animal in a vehicle equipped with a climate control system designed for animal transport, the law states.

RELATED: New System Protects Harford K-9s From Heat

The temperature inside a vehicle can rise drastically in a short time.

Within 10 minutes, it can feel like it's 104 degrees inside a vehicle when it is 85 degrees outside.

The Harford County Sheriff's Office shared this chart showing how the temperature outside correlates to the temperature inside a vehicle.

As a rule of thumb, the sheriff's office offered this guidance: "Before you ask, 'How long is OK to leave an animal in the car?' Know the law says no time!"

"Today, as you can tell, is going to be a very hot day," Cajigas said in a post on the Harford County Sheriff's Office Facebook page Tuesday, June 25. Temperatures were in the 80s.

He advised: "Make sure you leave your puppies at home today."

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