A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to make it unlawful to confine animals in motor vehicles under circumstances that threaten the animals' health.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 47 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 14‑362.4.  Confinement of animals in motor vehicles.
(a)	It is unlawful for a person to confine any animal in a motor vehicle under conditions that are likely to cause suffering, injury, or death to the animal due to heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, lack of food or water, or under other endangering conditions. If the animal does not suffer serious injury or die as a result of the confinement, violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. If the confinement does cause serious injury or death to the animal, violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Any subsequent violation of this section, regardless of the injury to the animal, is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(b)	In order to protect the health and safety of an animal, any animal control officer, animal cruelty investigator appointed under G.S. 19A‑45, law enforcement officer, firefighter, or rescue squad worker who has probable cause to believe that this section is being violated may enter a motor vehicle by any reasonable means under the circumstances after making a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other person responsible for the animal."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2013, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.