Photo Courtesy of Syracuse.com
People in the state of Tennessee can now legally break into a hot car to rescue an animal trapped inside, thanks to a new law that took effect July 1, 2015.
The Tennessee Legislature amended the state’s “Good Samaritan Law,” which allowed residents to break into hot cars to save young children.
The law comes with a few stipulations, however. A person must first attempt to look for the owner of the vehicle and notify law enforcement before taking any action in his or her own hands.
Key language of the bill states:
“As enacted, adds animals to the existing procedure that confers immunity from liability on a person for damage caused by breaking into a locked vehicle for the purpose of extracting a child in danger.”
It is believed Tennessee is the first state in the nation with a law of this nature.