Should Fifi, Bruiser or Your Wife sit in your Lap while Driving???? Bill before the house...

Last year I had a near accident with a woman with her border collie that was in her lap and hanging it's head out the window with its paws resting on the top of the door where the window is moved from, and this was all during driving.  She was going North on Reservoir away from Chapel View (2 lanes) and without a blinker or notice, she started to enter my lane (left lane) and I swerved with an 8 & 9 year old in the back BEEPING to let her know.  She immediately pulled back over and moved the dog down so she could see WHO was next to her.  We got to the light and I told the kids to pretend to "Awww and Oooowww" over the cute doggie so I could get a picture at the light.  The woman smiled seeing how happy they were and allowed the dog back up on her perch so they could see better.  SNAP, I got my picture (which is attached).

Posted to Facebook and got a string of comments.  I wanted to know....Is It Okay to drive with your 10lb little pooch, a Great Dane or your wife????  Really?  Why is it not okay to drive with a child in the front seat?  The Air bags could kill the child.  What about a dog?  Is the child better behaved/responsible than the dog?  Is the dog more impulsive vs. a child.

NO TEXTING while driving.  Does your cell phone have hands, legs and a tail and wiggle around?  I don't think so, I think this is far more a distraction.

WHY THEN??? Why O Why do people think this is a safe idea?  I feel like many think it's a status symbol.  Look at me with my big Lexis SUV and my beautiful Bijon puffball with the bling bling rhinestone necklace.  What are these people thinking.

Rep. Palumbo has submitted a Bill to stop this practice.