Horse Carriage Rides In PA Could Be Restricted Under Proposed Law

PENNSYLVANIA — Earlier this month, Philadelphia City Council formally banned the once-popular tourist attraction of horse-drawn carriages.

Now, a Pennsylvania state legislator wants to extend that prohibition to more of the state's most populated cities.

Rep. Melissa Shusterman, a Chester County Democrat, plans to introduce a bill that strictly would limit where horse-drawn carriages could operate.

If the bill becomes law, any Pennsylvania city with a population over 100,000 could not have horse-drawn carriages in operation for any monetary gain. Those who violate that law would face a $1,000-per day fine.

The proposed legislation would force Pittsburgh, Erie and Allentown to join Philadelphia in the ban. The four cities combined have a population greater than 2 million, or nearly one-sixth of the state's 13 million residents.

In a memo to colleagues, Shusterman indicated her bill was inspired by two recent horse-related deaths in New York City.

"In just the past month, in NYC’s Central Park, there have been two tragic horse-drawn carriage incidents," she stated.

"In the first incident, a horse collapsed and soon died. In the second, a spooked horse caused an accident that resulted in the death of an 18-year-old passenger of another carriage.

"These events have renewed and elevated calls from the public and animal rights advocates to end animal-drawn carriage rides in cities, as the practice forces animals to work in dangerous, stressful, and unnatural conditions."