WASHINGTON STATE – New law gives protections to rescuers breaking into vehicles to save animals and people.
House Bill 1046, signed into law on April 30, provides immunity from damages and lawsuits for those who break into vehicles to save people or animals in immediate danger.
Sergeant Michael Rosane of the Kennewick Police Department explained that certain conditions must be met before breaking into a vehicle.
“The first thing they have to determine is that there is an imminent danger to the person or the domestic animal,” said Sgt. Rosane. “At that time, they also need to determine that the vehicle’s locked, and there’s no way for the person or the animal to get out of the car without assistance.”
Sgt. Rosane says people also must only use reasonable force when entering a vehicle. They also must notify law enforcement or emergency services before attempting to get into the vehicle and must stay with the animal or person until emergency services arrive.
The law specifies that a vulnerable person is someone under the age of 18, and domestic animals refer to household pets, excluding livestock.
Rosane says if these conditions aren’t met, it’s best to let the professionals take over.
“We do come across situations sometimes on a mild day, you know, 72 degrees outside and somebody sees a dog in a car and the windows are cracked. That is not an imminent danger situation,” said Sgt. Rosane.
