June 25, 2001 - PA Criminalizes Transport of Equines in Double Deckers
June 25, 2001 - Governor Ridge signs PA HB 1139 into law!
February 12, 2001 - New York horse dealer, Arlow Kiehl,
utilizing a 2 tier, double-deck cattle truck for horses.
Act 64 makes it illegal to transport ANY horse in a double deck cattle trailer,
no matter what their destination may be!
What HB1139 has done:
Amended the Pennsylvania anti-cruelty law, Title 18, Section 5511(e)
Transporting any equine animal in a conveyance with two or more levels (DOUBLES) is ILLEGAL!
Each equine animal is a separate offense.
First violation is a summary offense.
Second violations are third degree misdemeanors for each equine animal.
What you can do:
Call, write or fax your PA State Representative and thank them for supporting PA HB 1139.
Make sure to state the following:
Your name, telephone number and home and/or business address.
I am a horse (owner, breeder, trainer, dealer, transporter, enthusiast).
I am a member of (horse organization, foundation, rescue, etc.).
I am PA business owner (if applicable, i.e. feed/tack shop, vet, etc.).
You appreciate the action they have taken and their recognition of the fact that transporting equines in conveyances with one than one level or tier (Double Deckers) is cruel and inhumane.
An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for the offense of transporting equine animals in a cruel manner.
Introduced by Representatives:
Lynch, Steelman, J. Baker, Bard, Bebki-Jones, Belardi, Belfanti, Browne, Buxton, Caltagirone, Cappelli, Casorio, Civera, L. I. Cohen, Cornell, Corrigan, Costa, Creighton, Cruz, Curry, Daley, Dally, DeWeese, J. Evans, Frankel, Freeman, Gruitza, Habay, Harhai, Harper, Hennessey, Herman, Horsey, Josephs, Kaiser, Kirkland, Krebs, Maher, McCall, McIlhinney, Michlovic, Mundy, Nailor, Nickol, Readshaw, Roberts, Rooney, Ross, Rubley, Sather, Schroder, Shaner, Solobay, Staback, Tangretti, E. Z. Taylor, Trello, Walko, Wansacz, Watson, C. Williams, Wilt, Youngblood and Zug.
Links to find the contact information for your PA Representative or Senator:
Complete Text of HB 1139:
1 conveyance, or other vehicle whatsoever with two or more levels.
2 A person who violates this subsection on a second or subsequent
3 occasion commits a misdemeanor of the third degree for each
4 equine animal transported.
5 * * *
6 (q) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
7 words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
8 subsection:
9 * * *
10 "Conveyance." A truck, tractor, trailer or semitrailer, or
11 any combination of these, propelled or drawn by mechanical
12 power.
13 * * *
14 "Equine animal." Any member of the Equidae family, which
15 includes horses, asses, mules, ponies and zebras.
16 * * *
17 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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For years they have diligently pursued the enforcement of cruelty laws, as applicable to equines, and have fought hard to criminalize the use of substandard transport (doubles) for equines. They were key in the passing of this vital legislation.
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