Over the past six months, an e-petition on the concern has been signed by more than five 000 people, meaning it passes the threshold to be considered for debate. Deputy Jeremy Maçon has now lodged a proposition with the States primarily based on the petition, which means that it will likely be discussed. In it, the St. Saviour Deputy says: ‘Now that it has reached the signature threshold, it’s miles a matter that Members need to recollect.’
In his proposition, he adds: ‘The direct monetary implications of this proposition relate to the consultation method proposed, which can be absorbed from departmental budgets. However, if it is decided to amend rules, then it is in all likelihood that there can be several resource implications for the police and parishes, as well as a potential price to the public if a cat-licensing system is introduced.’
If the proposition is authorized, the Infrastructure and Environment Ministers could be requested to consult on how cats may be given extra safety below both the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956, Highway Code or Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law 2004, so that drivers are required to document an incident wherein a cat is injured to the police. Under present-day legislation, it’s for an offense to hit a canine and power away without reporting the twist of fate. However, it isn’t illegal to force away if the animal concerned is a cat.
The be counted raised within the States in 2015 after heaps of humans signed a petition calling for the regulation to be modified. That petition turned launched via Islander Sandra Jasmine following a case in which a motorist struck a cat, killing the injured animal to stop its suffering.
At the time, former Infrastructure Minister Eddie Noel agreed to fulfill campaigners to talk about what action should be taken and, following the assembly, contacted the States’ Law Officers’ group to ask them to look at how regulation can be updated. However, no changes were made. Then in October, following the launch of the States e-petition website, thru which petitions can cause debates if they receive enough support, the problem changed into raised publicly again.
