1. This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the “Responsible Pit Bull Ownership Licensing Act.”
2. As used in this act:
“Animal control officer” means a certified municipal animal control officer or, in the absence of such an officer, the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality or that officer’s designee; and
“Pit bull” means any dog of the breed American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or Staffordshire Terrier, or any dog determined to be a pit bull type dog pursuant to subsection c. of section 3 of this act.
3. a. A municipality may, by ordinance, require any person residing within the municipality who owns, keeps or harbors a pit bull in the municipality to obtain an annual license to own, keep or harbor such a dog. No such license shall be issued to any person under the age of 18 years. This license, and any requirements or conditions attached thereto, shall be in addition to any license or other authorization required pursuant to P.L.1941, c.151 (C.4:19-15.1 et seq.), P.L.1989, c.307 (C.4:19-17 et seq.) or any other law.
b. A municipality adopting an ordinance pursuant to subsection a. of this section may require the license applicant to provide:
(1) information about the breed, sex, age, color and markings of the dog and whether it is of a long- or short-haired variety;
(2) information about any licenses issued for the dog pursuant to P.L.1941, c.151 (C.4:19-15.1 et seq.), P.L.1989, c.307 (C.4:19-17 et seq.) or any other law;
(3) the name, street and post-office addresses, and telephone number of the license applicant;
(4) the license applicant’s record, if any, of criminal convictions or of convictions or other adjudications for animal cruelty; and
(5) any other information the municipality deems appropriate to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.
c. (1) A municipality adopting an ordinance pursuant to subsection a. of this section may require any person residing within the municipality who owns, keeps or harbors any kind of dog to provide proof that the dog is not a pit bull. If breed records are not available or the dog is a mongrel, hybrid, or mixed breed, the municipality may by visual inspection and use of detailed professional standards and illustrations decide if the dog is a pit bull type dog. In lieu of visual inspection, the municipality may require submission of a photo or photos of the dog for the purposes of this paragraph.
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/S1000/801_I1.HTM
Can you give me a written description of any of these breeds that is specific enough to exclude dogs like english or american bulldogs, black mouth curs, mastiffs and others? Banning dogs that display vicious behavior is one thing; describing a dog that can be from 20-100 pounds, with drop or prick ears, docked or natural tails, with no defining markings, all without misidentifying hundreds of non-bully dogs,is impossible.