Charleston mulls changes in carriage rules

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — The City of Charleston is considering changes the rules governing one of its more popular visitor attractions — the carriages that ply the city’s narrow streets.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reports the biggest change will require carriage companies take the temperatures of animals when the air temperature reaches 85 degrees. Now the animal’s temperatures must be taken when the mercury reaches 90.

All carriages must be off the streets when the temperature reaches 98.

One carriage company owner urged city council Tuesday to oppose the changes, saying he couldn’t recall any cases of heat-related stress and council doesn’t need to fix what’s not broken.

But a representative of the local animal society said while the current system works, the city needs to be proactive about making it better.