Bramnick wants to stop dog owners from leaving the scene of a dog bite

Leaving the scene of a dog bit might soon be illegal.

Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick has introduced legislation that would allow law enforcement to charge a dog owner with a disorderly persons offense if their fail to immediate report that their dog bit someone, or if they leave the scene before police arrive.

It’s not an uncommon problem for New Jerseyans to be bitten by a dog, only to see the dog owner dis

Bramnick’s proposal gives police officers discretion over issuing a summons.

If law enforcement “has reason to believe” that they dog was not provoked, they would be “required to seize and impound the dog.”

“If the police officer requires the assistance of an animal control officer to effectuate the dog’s seizure  and impoundment,  the  police officer  will  be required to hold the dog at the scene of the incident until the animal control officer seizes and impounds the dog,” the bill states.

The bill would require a fine of between $500 and $1,000 and could include a prison term of no more than six months.

If Bramnick’s bill doesn’t pass the Assembly before the end of the current legislative session on January 11, 2022, he’ll have an opportunity to reintroduce it next year.  He was elected to the State Senate on November 2.