×

Motor vehicle vs. livestock accident

A citizen recently asked if a person is operating a motor vehicle on the roadway and strikes a farm animal such as a horse, cow, sheep, pig, etc, who is responsible?

An animal of this nature, referring to a person’s privately-owned farm animal, that has gotten out of a pen or fenced in area is said to be running at large and is still the responsibility of the owner. As for the owners of the animal that is running at large, it is their responsibility to make sure their fences or enclosures are maintained to ensure their animals are contained in a specific area.

Should an accident between a motor vehicle and a livestock animal take place, the crash needs to be reported just as you would any other accident you are involved in. You are able to do this by contacting your local emergency dispatch center, either by a non-emergency line if you know the number or by calling 9-1-1. The dispatcher will then send the closest officer to your location to begin the investigation. The farm animal is personal property. It’s not like a deer, which is public property owned by the State of Michigan, so a report must be made.

Anyone who has been around livestock of some sort knows there are occasions where an animal escapes; however, if it becomes a continuous problem, there are laws governing this type of problem, and that owner could face criminal charges. Michigan statute MCL 433.12 states, “Animals running at large prohibited; violation as misdemeanor. Sec. 2.(1) An animal shall not run at large in this state.(2) The owner of an animal shall not permit or enable his animal to run at large in this state. (3) A person other than the owner of an animal shall not wilfully and knowingly enable an animal to run at large in this state. (4) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.”

This statue refers to any domestic or livestock animal. There is a specific statue as it relates to the owner of a bull six months or more of age. MCL 750.65, Sec. 65. states, “Any person being the owner of a bull 6 months or more of age … who shall permit said bull to run at large upon any highway or unenclosed lands shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 30 days or by a fine of not more than $100.00, or both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court.” There were no other statues I could find specifically listing other livestock animals, so they would fall under the animal at large statue.

Ashley Simpson is a Community Service Trooper for the MSP Alpena Post. If you have a question for Trooper Simpson, you can email her at asktroopersimpson@gmail.com or mail them to Ask A Trooper, Michigan State Police – Alpena Post, 3283 W. Washington Ave, Alpena, MI  49707.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today