Source: https://www.animallaw.info/topic/table-state-assistance-animal-laws
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 16:05:25+00:00

Document:
This table compares all 50 states' assistance animal laws for several categories. Included are assistance animal accommodation laws, criminal interference laws, licensing laws, disabled pedestrian laws, and service animal misrepresentation laws. Links to the text of the various laws are provided.
This table compares state assistance animal/service dog laws. The first column gives state definitions for an assistance animal, which can range from a "guide dog" in Connecticut to a "medical alert or respond dog" in Missouri. Other categories surveyed are equal access/public accommodation laws, criminal interference/harm to service animal laws, disabled pedestrian laws, dog licensing laws that address service animals, and laws concerning the fraudulent representation of assistance animals.
Equal access laws protect the rights of disabled individuals to use assistance animals in public places, modes of transportation, and housing without having to pay an extra fee. If a listed place refuses entry with an assistance animal or otherwise interferes with the rights of the individual, that entity may have to pay a fine or could even face criminal charges (usually a misdemeanor).
Nearly all states have laws that protect assistance animals from criminal interference, theft, and assault. Only Alabama, Alaska, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, and West Virginia do not appear to have such laws. Violators can face a simple misdemeanor for willfully interfering with a service animal in New Hampshire, to a one-year term of imprisonment/$10,000 fine in California for causing intentional injury to a service animal. It is important to observe the state of mind (or mens rea in legal terms) required under many of these state laws. Some laws require that a person only "recklessly" interfere with, or allow his or her dog to interfere with, a service animal. For the more serious crime of causing death or serious injury to a service animal, a person must "intentionally" cause the injury.
Some states, like California and Hawaii, require that the service animal be in the "discharge of its duties" when the assault occurs. Other states are silent on this requirement. Many laws require that, upon conviction, violators pay restitution for any veterinary bills and replacement costs of the dog if it is disabled or killed.
Laws protecting disabled pedestrians, typically known as "White Cane Laws," appear in most states. These laws mandate that drivers approaching pedestrians who are blind or visually handicapped and using guide dogs take such reasonable precautions before proceeding as may be necessary to avoid an accident or injury. Punishment typically involves a fine and possibly restitution resulting from injuries to the pedestrian and his or her assistance animal.
About half the states offer licensing fee waivers for service dogs. Sometimes proof of the dog's status as a service dog is required. In California, for instance, a person must attest to such fact in an affidavit. A person who makes a false claim on this affidavit faces a possible six months in jail and/or $1,000 fine.
Finally, about 18 states have laws that make it a crime to fraudulently represent that a person has the right to be accompanied by a service animal. This may simply involve the use of a harness, vest, or orange leash that typically identifies as a dog as a service animal. Violation is usually a misdemeanor.
It may be informational to look at the table below to compare the various state laws. The table includes links to the text of the laws discussed.
For the purposes of this section, the term service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.
Ala. Code 1975 § 21-7-4.
shall have the right to be accompanied by a service animal in any public place, including a public or private school, and any of the places listed in Section 21-7-3.
The person may not be required to pay an extra charge for the service animal.
Any person, firm or corporation, or the agent of any person, firm or corporation, who denies or interferes with admittance to or enjoyment of the public facilities or otherwise interferes with the rights of a totally or partially blind or otherwise disabled person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Ala. Code 1975 § 21-7-5.
The driver of a vehicle approaching a totally or partially blind pedestrian who is using a guide dog, or a person employed by an accredited school for training guide dogs who provides notice shall take all necessary precautions prescribed by law to avoid injury to the blind pedestrian, and the dog trainer.
Any driver who fails to take all necessary precautions shall be liable in damages for any injury caused the pedestrian, or the guide dog trainer.
Ala. Code 1975 § 21-7-6.
"Service animal" means a dog guide or other animal that assists a physically disabled person to function as a pedestrian.
"Certified service animal" means an animal trained to assist a physically or mentally challenged person and certified by a school or training facility for service animals as having completed such training.
"In training to be a service animal" means being in the pre-training or training period as required under a program administered through a school, agency, or other training facility for service animals whose goal is to certify the animal as being able to assist physically or mentally challenged persons.
A person commits the crime of interference with the rights of a physically or mentally challenged person if he or she intentionally prevents or restricts a physically or mentally challenged person from being accompanied or assisted by a certified service animal in a common carrier/place of public accommodation.
Interference with the rights of a physically or mentally challenged person is a class B misdemeanor.
A person commits the offense of interference with the training of a service animal if he or she intentionally prevents or restricts a person who is authorized to train a service animal from being accompanied by an animal that is identified as being in training to be a service animal.
Interference with the training of a service animal is a violation.
The driver of a vehicle approaching a physically disabled pedestrian who is using a service animal must take precautions to avoid injury to the pedestrian or the service animal. A driver who fails to take necessary precautions and causes injury to the pedestrian/service animal is liable for the injury or damage caused.
"Service animal" means any guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing assistance in a medical crisis, pulling a wheelchair or fetching dropped items.
"Service animal" means an animal that has completed a formal training program, that assists its owner in one or more daily living tasks that are associated with a productive lifestyle and that is trained to not pose a danger to the health and safety of the general public.
Any person or entity that operates a public place shall not discriminate against individuals with disabilities who use service animals.
Any trainer or individual with a disability may take an animal being trained as a service animal to a public place for purposes of training subject to exceptions in law.
Violation is a class 2 misdemeanor.
Law has exception for zoos or wild animal parks where service animals may come into direct contact with the animals.
Intentionally or knowingly interferes with, kills or harms a working or service animal without either legal privilege or consent of the owner (class 6 felony).
Intentionally or knowingly allows any dog that is under the person's custody or control to interfere with, kill or cause physical injury to a service animal (class 6 felony).
Recklessly allows any dog that is under the person's custody or control to interfere with, kill or cause physical injury to a service animal (class 1 misdemeanor).
Intentionally or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over a service animal with the intent to deprive the service animal handler of the service animal (class 6 felony).
The driver of a vehicle approaching a legally blind pedestrian who is using a service animal shall yield the right-of-way and take reasonable precautions to avoid injury to the pedestrian and the service animal. A driver who violates this subsection is liable for damages for any injury caused to the pedestrian or the service animal. Also a class 2 misdemeanor.
Every physically disabled person has right to be accompanied by a service animal at no extra charge in and upon all public ways, public places, and housing accommodations.
A blind, physically handicapped, deaf or hard-of-hearing person and his or her guide, signal, or service dog or a dog trainer in the act of training a guide, signal, or service dog shall not be denied admittance to or refused access to public places because of the dog, or charged any additional fee.
Any person who without just cause purposely kills or injures any service animal described in this section or any search and rescue dog is guilty of a Class D felony.
Any person who kills or injures any service animal described in this section or any search and rescue dog shall make restitution to the owner of the animal.
The driver of a vehicle approaching a visually handicapped or hearing impaired person who is using guide or hearing ear dog shall take all reasonable precautions to avoid injury to the visually handicapped, hearing impaired, or other physically handicapped pedestrian.
"guide dog" means any guide dog that was trained by a licensed person.
"signal dog" means any dog trained to alert an individual who is deaf or hearing impaired to intruders or sounds.
"service dog" means any dog individually trained to the requirements of the individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, minimal protection work, rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items.
Every individual with a disability has the right to be accompanied by a guide dog, signal dog, or service dog in any public place without being required to pay an extra charge.
A violation of the right under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 also constitutes a violation of this section, and nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the access of any person in violation of that act.
Anyone who denies or interferes with admittance to or enjoyment of the public facilities or otherwise interferes with the rights of an individual with a disability is liable for each offense for the actual damages up to a maximum of 3 times the amount of actual damages, but in no case less than $1,000, and attorney's fees.
"Interfere," for purposes of this section, includes, but is not limited to, preventing or causing the prevention of a guide dog, signal dog, or service dog from carrying out its functions in assisting a disabled person.
It is a denial of equal access to housing accommodations to refuse to lease housing to an individual who uses an assistance dog.
Trained guide dogs, signal dogs, and service dogs trained may be transported in a schoolbus when accompanied by disabled pupils enrolled in a public or private school or by disabled teachers employed in a public or private school or community college or by persons training the dogs.
Any person who intentionally interferes with the use of a guide, signal, or service dog or mobility aid by harassing or obstructing is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail up to 6 months, or fine of not less than $1,500 nor more than $2,500, or both.
Unlawful to permit any dog to injure or kill any service dog while the service dog is in discharge of its duties. Violation is infraction punishable by a fine if the injury is caused by the person's failure to exercise ordinary care.
Violation is a misdemeanor if the injury is caused by reckless disregard in the exercise of control over his or her dog punishable by fine of not less $2,500 nor more than $5,000, or both. Upon conviction, the defendant shall make restitution, including veterinary bills and replacement costs.
Any person who intentionally causes injury to or the death of any service dog, while the dog is in discharge of its duties, is guilty of a misdemeanor is guilty, punishable by imprisonment up to 1year, or by fine up to $10,000, or by both. Upon conviction, a defendant must make restitution to the person with a disability who has custody or ownership of the dog for any veterinary bills and replacement costs of the dog if it is disabled or killed.
A totally or partially blind pedestrian who is using a guide dog, shall have the right-of-way.
Failure to do so is a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 6 months, or a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000, or both.
For a license, person must sign affidavit stating dog is trained assistance dog. Person who makes false affidavit faces 6 months in jail and/or $1,000 fine.
Upon the death or retirement of an assistance dog, the owner or person in possession of the assistance dog identification tag shall immediately return the tag to the animal control department that issued the tag.
West's Ann. Cal. Food & Agric. Code § 30850.
Any person who knowingly and fraudulently represents himself or herself, through verbal or written notice, to be the owner or trainer of any canine licensed/qualified/identified as a guide, signal, or service dog shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 6 months, by a fine not exceeding $1,000, or by both fine and imprisonment.
“Service animal” means any animal, the services of which are used to aid the performance of official duties by a peace officer, law enforcement agency, fire department, fire protection district, or governmental search and rescue agency.
Violation is a class 3 misdemeanor and shall be liable to the qualified individual with a disability who is accompanied by a service animal or a trainer of a service animal whose rights were affected for the penalties provided in section 24-34-802.
A court may award costs and reasonable attorney fees.
A person shall not knowingly deny an individual with a disability, as defined in section 24-34-301(5.6), C.R.S., any right or privilege protected in section 24-34-502, 24-34-502.2, 24-34-601, 24-34-802(1), or 24-34-803, C.R.S.
Driver who approaches a person with a disability (including use of a service animal) must come to a full stop to avoid accident.
Failure to do so is class A traffic offense.
Person with disability is exempt from any state or local licensing fees or charges in connection with owning a service animal.
A person shall not falsely impersonate an individual with a disability.
Violation is class 1 petty offense.
"Guide dog" or "assistance dog" includes a dog being trained as a guide dog or assistance dog and "person training a dog as a guide dog for a blind person or a dog to assist a deaf or mobility impaired person" means a person who is employed by and authorized to engage in designated training activities by a guide dog organization or assistance dog organization that complies with the criteria as described.
C. G. S. A. § 46a-44.
Any blind, deaf or mobility impaired person or any person training a dog as a guide dog may travel on a train or on any other mode of public transportation, and may enter any other place of public accommodation accompanied by his guide dog or assistance dog, provided such dog shall be in the direct custody of such person and shall be wearing a harness or an orange-colored leash and collar.
It shall be a discriminatory practice in violation of this section to deny any blind, deaf or mobility impaired person, or any person training a dog as a guide dog, who is accompanied by his guide dog or assistance dog wearing a harness or an orange-colored leash and collar, full and equal access to any place of public accommodation, resort or amusement.
Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not less than $25 or more than $100 or imprisoned not more than 30 days, or both.
The owner or keeper of a dog shall restrain and control such dog on a leash when such dog is not on the property of its owner or keeper and is in proximity to a blind, deaf or mobility impaired person accompanied by guide dog, provided the guide dog is in direct custody and is wearing a harness or an orange-colored leash and collar.
Owner or keeper liable for any damage done to such guide dog, including any costs incurred for veterinary care, rehabilitation or replacement of the injured guide dog and for reasonable attorney's fees.
Any blind, deaf or mobility impaired person who is the owner or keeper of a dog which has been trained and educated to guide and assist such person in traveling upon the public streets or highways or otherwise shall receive a license and tag for such dog from the town clerk of the town where such dog is owned or kept at no fee.
“Service dog” means any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items.
Support animal means any animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks to meet the requirementsof a person with a physical disability, including, but not limited to, minimal protection work, rescue work, pulling a wheelchair or fetching dropped items.
Any person who by reason of loss or impairment of eyesight or hearing is accompanied a “seeing eye dog,” is entitled to the full and equal accommodations and shall be entitled to take the dog into such conveyances and places.
Deprivation of this right results in a fine of not more than $100, or be imprisoned for a period not exceeding 3 months, or both.
No person being the owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, director, supervisor, superintendent, agent or employee of any place of public accommodation, shall directly or indirectly refuse, withhold from or deny to any person, on account of disability any of the accommodations, facilities, advantages or privileges thereof. For the purpose of training support animals to be used by persons with disabilities, all trainers and their support animals shall be included within those covered by this subsection (§ 4504). Complaints are sent to State Human Relations Commission where civil penalty can range from $5,000 to $25,000 depending on how many prior discriminatory public accommodations practice have occurred.
No person shall intentionally interfere with the use of a service dog by obstructing, intimidating or otherwise jeopardizing the safety of the user or animal (class B misdemeanor).
No person shall intentionally injure or disable a service dog that is being used by its owner or the officer teamed with the dog (class A misdemeanor).
No person shall intentionally kill a service dog owned by a private person or agency (class D felony).
No person shall intentionally steal, take or wrongfully obtain a service dog owned by a private person or agency (class E felony).
Every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian upon any roadway and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary and shall exercise proper precaution upon observing a person wholly or partially blind, accompanied by a guide dog, upon a roadway.
The license fee set by the county pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall not be required to be paid when the dog is one which qualifies as a seeing eye, lead or guide dog or as a dog which has previously served in a branch of the United States armed forces. The county shall issue either a metal license tag or an alternative method for identification in accordance with subsection (b) of this section to such persons without the necessity of the payment of the dog license fee.
“Service animal” means an animal that is trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The work done or tasks performed must be directly related to the individual's disability and may include, but are not limited to, guiding an individual who is visually impaired or blind, alerting an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing, pulling a wheelchair, assisting with mobility or balance, alerting and protecting an individual who is having a seizure, retrieving objects, alerting an individual to the presence of allergens, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to an individual with a mobility disability, helping an individual with a psychiatric or neurological disability by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors, reminding an individual with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming an individual with posttraumatic stress disorder during an anxiety attack, or doing other specific work or performing other special tasks.
Specifically states: "A service animal is not a pet."
Service animal is also limited to a dog or a miniature horse.
An individual with a disability has the right to be accompanied by a service animal in all areas of a public accommodation that the public or customers are normally permitted to occupy.
a public accommodation may ask if an animal is a service animal required because of a disability and what work or tasks the animal has been trained to perform.
Denial or interference with these rights is misdemeanor of second degree and must perform 30 hours of community service for an organization that serves individuals with disabilities, or for another entity or organization at the discretion of the court, to be completed in not more than 6 months.
Any trainer of a service animal, while engaged in the training of such an animal, has the same rights and privileges with respect to access to public facilities and the same liability for damage.
A person who, with reckless disregard, interferes with, or permits a dog that he or she owns or is in the immediate control of to interfere with, the use of a service animal by obstructing, intimidating, or otherwise jeopardizing the safety of the service animal or its user commits a misdemeanor of the second degree for the first offense and a misdemeanor of the first degree for each subsequent offense.
A person who, with reckless disregard, injures or kills, or permits a dog that he or she owns or is in the immediate control of to injure or kill, a service animal commits a misdemeanor of the first degree.
A person who intentionally injures or kills, or permits a dog that he or she owns or is in the immediate control of to injure or kill, a service animal commits a felony of the third degree.
If mobility-impaired pedestrian is using a guide dog or service animal to cross a public street, driver must bring vehicle to a full stop and take precautions to avoid injuring pedestrian.
A person who knowingly and willfully misrepresents herself or himself, through conduct or verbal or written notice, as using a service animal and being qualified to use a service animal or as a trainer of a service animal commits a misdemeanor of the second degree and must perform 30 hours of community service for an organization that serves individuals with disabilities, or for another entity or organization at the discretion of the court, to be completed in not more than 6 months.
"Assistance dog" means a dog that is or has been trained by a licensed or certified person, organization, or agency to perform physical tasks for a physically challenged person. Assistance dogs include guide or leader dogs that guide individuals who are legally blind; hearing dogs that alert individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to specific sounds; and service dogs for individuals with disabilities other than blindness or deafness, which are trained to perform a variety of physical tasks, including, but not limited to, pulling a wheelchair, lending balance support, picking up dropped objects, or providing assistance in a medical crisis.
"The guide dog or service dog must be identified as having been trained by a school for seeing eye, hearing, service, or guide dogs."
Every totally or partially blind person shall have the right to be accompanied by a guide dog, and every physically disabled person and every deaf person shall have the right to be accompanied by a service dog in public places and accommodations, and shall have full and equal access to all housing accommodations.
Every person engaged in the training of a guide dog or service dog for the purpose of accompanying a person shall have the same right to be accompanied by such dog so long as such trainer is identified as an agent or employee of a school for seeing eye, hearing, service, or guide dogs.
Denial or interference is misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000.00, imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both.
Any person who knowingly and intentionally harasses or attempts to harass an assistance dog, knowing the dog to be an assistance dog, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Punishable by imprisonment for not less than 90 days or a fine not to exceed $500.00, or both.
Any person who knowingly and intentionally allows his or her dog to harass an assistance dog, knowing the dog to be an assistance dog, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Punishable by imprisonment for not less than 90 days or a fine not to exceed $500.00, or both (second violation punished as a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature).
Any person who knowingly and intentionally allows his or her dog to cause death or physical harm to an assistance dog by rendering a part of the assistance dog's body useless or by seriously disfiguring the assistance dog, knowing the dog to be an assistance dog, shall be punished as for a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.
The driver of every vehicle shall yield the right of way to any blind pedestrian who is carrying a walking cane or stick white in color or white tipped with red or who is accompanied by a guide dog.
“Service dog” means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, intellectual, or other mental disability. A companion or comfort animal is not a service dog unless it meets the requirements of this definition and it accompanies a person for the purpose of performing the work or tasks for which it has been trained.
Every person who is blind, deaf, visually handicapped, or otherwise disabled shall have the right to be accompanied by a service dog.
No service dog shall be considered dangerous merely because it is unmuzzled.
Person injured by violation may bring a civil action to recover three times the person's actual damages or $1,000, whichever sum is greater, for each violation (also costs and attorney fees).
Violation by person, business, agency, or any common or public carrier results in fine of not more than $1,000.
while the service dog is in the discharge of its duties.
(b) The person is the owner of a dog and recklessly permits that dog to attack a service dog while the service dog is in the discharge of its duties, resulting in the injury or death of the service dog.
(b) For a second or subsequent offense by a fine of not more than $5,000, imprisonment of not more than thirty days, or both.
Any driver of a vehicle shall, on approaching a person who is blind or visually handicapped and using a guide dog, take such reasonable precautions before proceeding as may be necessary to avoid an accident or injury to the blind or visually handicapped person.
Violation results in fine of not more than $100 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
Per H R S § 143-4, the director of finance shall adopt rules for the licensing of guide, signal, and service dogs.
“Assistance dog” means a dog that has been trained as a guide dog for a blind or visually impaired person, a hearing dog for a hearing impaired person, or a service dog for a physically disabled person.
A disabled person accompanied by an assistance dog shall not be denied the use of any common carrier or public transportation facility or admittance to any hotel, motel, cafe, elevator, housing for sale or rent, or any other public place within the state of Idaho.
Any person, firm, association or corporation or agent of any person, firm, association or corporation intentionally violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Every disabled person or person who is specially training or socializing a dog for the purpose of being an assistance dog shall have the right to be accompanied by an assistance dog, in any of the places listed in § 56-703.
Any person or persons, firm or corporation, or the agent of any person or persons, firm or corporation who denies or interferes with admittance to or enjoyment of the public facilities enumerated in this chapter or otherwise interferes with the rights of a totally or partially blind, hearing impaired, or otherwise disabled person under this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Person whether a pedestrian, operating a vehicle, etc. who approaches an individual appearing to be a disabled person or lawfully using an assistance device or assistance dog, and who intentionally fails to stop, change course, speak or take such other action as is necessary to avoid any accident or injury to the disabled person, the assistance device or dog, is guilty of a 6 month/$50 - 1,000 misdemeanor.
Any person, not being a disabled person or being trained to assist disabled persons, who uses an assistance device or assistance dog in an attempt to gain treatment or benefits as a disabled person, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
"Service animal" an animal trained in obedience and task skills to meet the needs of a person with a disability.
“Guide dog” means a dog that is trained to lead or guide a blind person.
"Hearing ear dog” means a dog that is trained to assist a deaf person.
an animal trained to perform balance work.
Every totally or partially blind or hearing impaired person, person who is subject to epilepsy or other seizure disorders, or person who has any other physical disability or a trainer of support dogs, guide dogs, seizure-alert dogs, seizure-response dogs, or hearing dogs shall have the right to be accompanied by a support dog or guide dog especially trained for the purpose, or a dog that is being trained to be a support dog, guide dog, seizure-alert dog, seizure-response dog, or hearing dog, in any of the places listed in this Section without being required to pay an extra charge for the guide, support, seizure-alert, seizure-response, or hearing dog; provided that he shall be liable for any damage done to the premises or facilities by such dog.
Service animals such as guide dogs, signal dogs or any other animal individually trained to perform tasks for the benefit of a student with a disability shall be permitted to accompany that student at all school functions, whether in or outside the classroom.
It is the duty of a licensee under this Act to allow the use of service animals if the service animal has been trained to perform a specific task or work in the water and the use of such animal does not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of the patrons of the facility or the function or sanitary conditions of the facility.
Unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously torture, mutilate, injure, disable, poison, or kill any service animal.
Class 4 felony if the animal is not killed or totally disabled.
Class 3 felony if the animal is killed or totally disabled.
A person may not willfully and maliciously annoy, taunt, tease, harass, torment, beat, or strike a guide, hearing, or support dog or otherwise engage in any conduct directed toward a guide, hearing, or support dog that is likely to impede or interfere with the dog's performance of its duties.
(b) A person may not willfully and maliciously torture, injure, or kill a guide, hearing, or support dog.
(c) A person may not willfully and maliciously permit a dog that is owned, harbored, or controlled by the person to cause injury to or the death of a guide, hearing, or support dog while the guide, hearing, or support dog is in discharge of its duties.
A second or subsequent violation is a Class 4 felony.
A person convicted of violating subsection (b) or (c) of this Section is guilty of a Class 4 felony if the dog is killed or totally disabled, and may be ordered by the court to make restitution to the disabled person.
An operator of a vehicle shall stop the vehicle before approaching closer than 10 feet to a pedestrian with a disability who is accompanied by a visibly identifiable service animal.
Must take all precautions that may be necessary to avoid an accident or injury to the pedestrian with a disability.
Any vehicle operator who fails to take such precautions shall be liable for damages for any injury caused to the pedestrian with a disability.
relies on for navigation, assistance in performing daily activities, or alert signals regarding the onset of the person's medical condition.
A person renting, leasing, or providing real property for compensation shall not refuse to accept a person with a disability as a tenant due to the fact that the person with a disability has a guide dog that assists the person with a disability in overcoming a particular disability.
A voter who requires the assistance of a service animal is entitled to bring the animal into the polls and the voting booth.
while the service animal is engaged in assisting an impaired person commits a Class A misdemeanor.
Level 6 felony if the act results in the serious permanent disfigurement; unconsciousness; permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ; or death of the service animal.
A person who drives a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a blind pedestrian carrying a clearly visible white cane or accompanied by a guide dog.
“Service dog” means a dog specially trained to assist a person with a disability, whether described as a service dog, a support dog, an independence dog, or otherwise.
“Assistive animal” means a simian or other animal specially trained or in the process of being trained to assist a person with a disability.
A person with a disability, a person assisting a person with a disability by controlling a service dog or an assistive animal, or a person training a service dog or an assistive animal has the right to be accompanied by a service dog or an assistive animal.
A person who knowingly denies or interferes with the right of a person under this section is, upon conviction, guilty of a simple misdemeanor.
Every blind or partially blind person shall have the right to be accompanied by a guide dog.
A deaf or hard-of-hearing person has the right to be accompanied by a hearing dog, under control and especially trained to assist the deaf or hard-of-hearing by responding to sound.
A person who denies or interferes with the right of a deaf or hard-of-hearing person under this section is, upon conviction, guilty of a simple misdemeanor.
Any person, firm, or corporation, or the agent of any person, firm, or corporation, who denies or interferes with the rights of any person under this chapter shall be guilty of a simple misdemeanor.
Any driver of a vehicle or operator of a motor-driven vehicle who approaches a person wholly or partially blind carrying a cane or being led by a guide dog wearing a harness shall immediately come to a complete stop, and take such precautions as may be necessary.
The failure of a blind or partially blind pedestrian to carry a cane or to use a guide dog in any place shall not be held to constitute or be evidence of contributory negligence.
"Assistance dog" means any guide dog, hearing assistance dog or service dog.
"Guide dog" means a dog which has been specially selected, trained and tested for the purpose of guiding a person who is legally blind.
"Hearing assistance dog" means a dog which is specially selected, trained and tested to alert or warn individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to specific sounds.
"Professional therapy dog" means a dog which is selected, trained and tested to provide specific physical or therapeutic functions, under the direction and control of a qualified handler who works with the dog as a team, and as a part of the handler's occupation or profession. Such dogs, with their handlers, perform such functions in institutional settings, community based group settings, or when providing services to specific persons who have disabilities.
"Professional therapy dog" does not include dogs, certified or not, which are used by volunteers for pet visitation therapy.
"Service dog" means a dog which has been specially selected, trained and tested to perform a variety of tasks for persons with disabilities. These tasks include, but are not limited to: Pulling wheelchairs, lending balance support, picking up dropped objects or providing assistance in, or to avoid, a medical crisis, or to otherwise mitigate the effects of a disability.
The presence of a dog for comfort, protection or personal defense does not qualify a dog as being trained to mitigate an individual's disability and therefor does not qualify the dog as an assistance dog covered under the provisions of this act.
(Procedure for verification of person's right to be accompanied by assistance dog or professional therapy dog set forth in K.S.A. 39-1111).
Every legally blind person shall have the right to be accompanied by a guide dog, specially selected, trained and tested for the purpose.
Every hearing impaired person has the right to be accompanied by a hearing assistance dog, specially selected, trained and tested for the purpose of hearing assistance.
Every person with a disability shall have the right to be accompanied by a service dog, specially selected, trained and tested for the purpose which shall include, but not be limited to, pulling a wheelchair, opening doors and picking up objects.
Any professional trainer, from a recognized training center, of an assistance dog, while engaged in the training of such dog, shall have the right to be accompanied by such dog.
Any qualified handler of a professional therapy dog when accompanied by such dog and when using any conveyance of public transportation available to all members of the general public, and when renting and using accommodations in motels, hotels and other temporary lodging places shall have the right to be accompanied by such dog in such places.
Any person, firm, corporation, or the agent of any person, firm or corporation, who denies or interferes with the exercise of the rights recognized in K.S.A. 39-1101, 39-1102, 39-1107, 39-1108 or 39-1109, and amendments thereto, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Inflicting harm, disability or death to a police dog, arson dog, assistance dog, game warden dog or search and rescue dog is a nonperson felony.
Penalty of not less than 30 days or more than one year's imprisonment and be fined not less than $500 nor more than $5,000. The person convicted shall not be eligible for release on probation, suspension or reduction of sentence or parole until the person has served the minimum mandatory sentence.
represent that such person has a disability for the purpose of acquiring an assistance dog unless such person has such disability.
Violation results in fine of not less than $250 to no more than $1,000, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than 10 nor more than 30 days, or both.
Intentionally and without legal justification or lawful authority kills or causes physical injury to a service animal to the extent that a service animal becomes physically incapable of ever returning to service.
Intentionally and without legal justification or lawful authority causes physical injury to a service animal.
KRS 525.200 and 525.205 shall apply whether or not the service animal is on duty or off duty.
Defendant may be ordered to make restitution to the person or agency owning the animal for any veterinary bills, replacement costs of the animal if it is disabled or killed, and the salary of the animal handler for the period of time his services are lost to the agency or self-employment.
The operator of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to any blind pedestrian carrying a clearly visible white cane or accompanied by an assistance dog.
Assistance dogs are exempt from all state and local licensing fees.
Licensing authorities shall accept that the dog for which the license is sought is an assistance dog if the person requesting the license is a person with a disability or the trainer of the dog.
Emergency medical treatment shall not be denied to an assistance dog assigned to a person regardless of the person's ability to pay prior to treatment.
(c) A seizure alert dog.
(e) An autism service dog.
(f) A dog providing assistance during a medical crisis.
(g) A service dog providing assistance to persons, including veterans with traumatic brain injury or post traumatic stress disorder.
Every person with a disability may be accompanied by an assistance dog, especially trained to aid such person, in places like common carriers, educational institutions, lodging places, restaurants, etc. without being required to pay an extra charge for such dog.
Each person with a disability who has a service dog, especially trained to aid such person or who obtains such a dog, shall be entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations, and he shall not be required to pay extra compensation for such dog but shall be liable for any damage done to the premises or any person on the premises by such dog.
During the training of a service dog, any trainer or puppy raiser of such dog shall have the same rights and privileges as a person with a disability to be accompanied by a service dog in any place or facility provided in this Chapter.
Denial or interference with full and equal accommodations results in fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.
Any person who purposely or negligently injures a service dog or any owner of a dog who allows that dog to injure a service dog because he fails to control or leash the dog shall also be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both. Such person shall also be liable for any injuries to the service dog and, if necessary, the replacement and compensation for the loss of the service dog.
Any such operator who fails to take all necessary precautions to avoid injury to a pedestrian with a disability shall be liable in damages for any injury caused to the pedestrian and any injury caused to the pedestrian's service dog.
Service dogs shall be exempt from any state or local license fee.
A dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual's disability. Examples of such work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting an individual who is totally or partially blind with navigation and other tasks, alerting an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing nonviolent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting an individual to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or a telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to an individual with a mobility disability and helping a person with a psychiatric or neurological disability by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors. The crime deterrent effects of an animal's presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.
Note that § 3961-A, (attack on service dog law) adopts either paragraph of the first definition.
Every totally or partially blind or otherwise physically or mentally disabled person has the right to be accompanied by a service dog, especially trained for the purpose.
An especially trained service dog trainer, while engaged in the actual training process and activities of service dogs, has the same rights, privileges and responsibilities described in this section with respect to access to and use of public facilities as are applicable to a blind, visually handicapped or otherwise physically or mentally disabled person.
Every blind or visually handicapped or otherwise physically or mentally disabled individual who has a service animal, such as a service dog, is entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations provided for in this section.
Violation by denial or interference with rights is a Class E crime. Violation of this section is a strict liability crime as defined in Title 17-A, section 34, subsection 4-A.
A deaf or hard-of-hearing person not using a guide dog in any of the places, accommodations or conveyances listed in section 1420-A has all of the rights and privileges conferred by law upon other persons. The failure of a deaf or hard-of-hearing person to use a guide dog in those places, accommodations or conveyances does not constitute nor is it evidence of contributory negligence.
A person who owns or keeps a dog that attacks, injures or kills a service animal while the service animal is in discharge of its duties commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture of not more than $1,000 may be adjudged.
When a person is adjudicated of a violation of this section, the court shall order the person to make restitution to the owner of the service animal for any veterinary bills and necessary retraining costs or replacement costs of the service animal if it is disabled or killed.
The driver of a vehicle approaching a totally or partially blind or otherwise physically disabled pedestrian who is using a service dog, shall take all necessary precautions to avoid injury; any driver who fails to take such precautions is liable in damages for any injury caused the pedestrian.
The driver of a vehicle approaching a deaf or hard-of-hearing person using a properly identified guide dog shall take all necessary precautions to avoid injury to that person and the guide dog. A driver who fails to take such precautions is liable in damages for any injury caused to that person or dog.
If a service dog has not been previously registered or licensed by the municipal clerk to whom the application is being made, the clerk may not register the dog nor issue to its owner or keeper a license and tag that identifies the dog as a service dog unless the applicant presents written evidence to the municipal clerk that the dog meets the definition of “service dog.” For the purpose of this subsection “written evidence” means a service dog certification form approved by the department in consultation with the Maine Human Rights Commission.
A municipal clerk or a veterinary licensing agent shall issue a license upon application and without payment of a license fee required under this section for a service dog owned or kept by a person with a physical or mental disability.
A person who fits a dog with a harness, collar, vest or sign of the type commonly used by blind/disabled person in order to represent that the dog is a service dog when training of the type that guide dogs normally receive has not been provided or when the dog does not meet the definition of “service dog” commits a civil violation for which a fine of not more than $500 may be adjudged.
detecting the onset of a seizure.
“Service animal trainer” means a person who trains or raises service animals for individuals with disabilities, whether the person is a professional or volunteer.
An individual with a disability or a parent of a minor child with a disability who has, obtains, or may wish to obtain a service animal is entitled to full and equal access to housing accommodations.
A mobility impaired individual may be accompanied by a service animal specially trained for that purpose in any place where a blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing individual has the right to be accompanied by a service animal.
A person may not deny or interfere with the admittance of a service animal that accompanies a blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or mobility impaired individual in violation of this section.
A person who violates is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $500 for each offense.
A person may not deny or interfere with the admittance of an animal being trained as a service animal that accompanies a service animal trainer.
A person who violates is subject to a fine not exceeding $25 for each offense.
The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a deaf or hearing impaired pedestrian accompanied by a guide dog.
If an application meets certain requirements and the local licensing agency is satisfied that the dog for which a license is sought is a service dog and is actually in use as a service dog: the dog owner is not required to pay a fee for issuance of the license; and the local licensing agency shall inscribe across the face of the license in red ink the words “service dog"
Any blind person, or deaf or hearing handicapped person, or other physically handicapped person accompanied by a dog guide, shall be entitled to any and all accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of all public conveyances, public amusements and places of public accommodation, within the commonwealth, to which persons not accompanied by dogs are entitled.
Violation results in a fine of not more $300 and civil damages as described.
A physically impaired person who uses an assistance animal or the owner of the assistance animal, may bring an action for economic and non-economic damages against a person who steals or attacks the assistance animal, or whose non-assistance animal attacks an assistance animal.
A cause of action shall not arise under this section if the physically impaired individual, owner or the individual having custody or supervision of the assistance animal was engaged in the commission of a crime at the time of injury sustained by the assistance animal.
Driver must bring vehicle to full stop and take necessary precautions whenever a totally or partially blind pedestrian, guided by a guide dog crosses or attempts to cross a way.
A person who owns an animal shall restrain and control such animal on a leash when in proximity to a guide dog that is on a public or private way.
Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of no less than $100 nor more than $500.
No fee shall be charged for a license for a dog specially trained to lead or serve a blind person.
No fee shall be charged for a license for a dog professionally trained in the hearing dog business to serve a deaf person.
The office on disability shall adopt rules and regulations for the licensing of service dogs and no fee shall be charged for a license for a dog recognized as a service dog.
Effective January 1, 2016, a public accommodation shall modify its policies, practices, and procedures to permit the use of a service animal by a person with a disability. This includes a miniature horse provided the animal meets criteria under the law.
A service animal shall be under the control of its handler, and shall have a harness, leash, or other tether, unless the handler is unable because it would interfere with the service animal's safe and effective performance of work or tasks, in which case the service animal shall be otherwise under the handler's control.
A public accommodation shall not ask a person with a disability to remove a service animal from the premises due to allergies or fear of the animal. He or she can only be removed if the animal is out of control and its handler does not take effective action to control it or if the service animal is not housebroken.
Whether the service animal is required because of a disability.
What work or task the service animal has been trained to perform.
Staff may not require documentation or ask the above questions if it is "readily apparent that the service animal is trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability."
A public accommodation that violates the relevant subsections of the law is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Willfully and maliciously assault, beat, harass, injure, or attempt to assault, beat, harass, or injure a service animal that he or she knows or has reason to believe is a service animal used by a person with a disability.
Willfully and maliciously impede or interfere with, or attempt to impede or interfere with, duties performed by a service animal that he or she knows or has reason to believe is a service animal used by a person with a disability.
An individual who violates this is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.
A driver of a vehicle shall not approach a crosswalk or any other pedestrian crossing without taking all necessary precautions to avoid accident or injury to a blind pedestrian using a dog guide or walker. If driver fails to take precautions, liable in damages to blind pedestrian. Can also face investigation by peace officer for violation and possible referral to prosecuting attorney.
The service animal is used by a person with a disability.
The service animal is owned by a partnership, corporation, or other legal entity that trains service animals for use by a person with a disability.
A person shall not falsely represent that he or she is in possession of a service animal, or a service animal in training, in any public place.
"Service animal" means an animal trained to assist a person with a disability.
It is an unfair discriminatory practice for a person to deny full and equal access to real property to a person who is totally or partially blind, deaf, or has a physical or sensory disability and who uses a service animal, if the service animal can be properly identified as being from a recognized program which trains service animals to aid persons who are totally or partially blind or deaf or have physical or sensory disabilities.
Every totally or partially blind, physically disabled, or deaf person who has a service dog, or who obtains a service dog, shall be entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations and shall not be required to pay extra compensation for such service dog but shall be liable for any damage done to the premises by such service dog.
It is an unfair discriminatory practice for an owner, operator, or manager of a hotel, restaurant, public conveyance, or other public place to prohibit a blind or deaf person or a person with a physical or sensory disability from taking a service animal into the public place or conveyance to aid blind or deaf persons or persons with physical or sensory disabilities, and if the service animal is properly harnessed or leashed so that the blind or deaf person or a person with a physical or sensory disability may maintain control of the service animal.
Every totally or partially blind, physically disabled, or deaf person or any person training a dog to be a service dog shall have the right to be accompanied by a service dog. The service dog must be capable of being properly identified as from a recognized school for seeing eye, hearing ear, service, or guide dogs.
otherwise render the animal unable to perform its duties.
where the violation renders the service animal unable to perform its duties is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
where the violation results in substantial bodily harm to a service animal may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than two years or to payment of a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.
Mandatory restitution including the service animal user's loss of income, veterinary expenses, transportation costs, and other expenses of temporary replacement assistance services, and service animal replacement or retraining costs incurred by a school, agency, or individual.
Any person operating a motor vehicle shall bring such motor vehicle to a stop and give the right-of-way to a blind pedestrian using a guide dog.
Every totally or partially blind person and every deaf person shall have the right to be accompanied by a guide dog or hearing ear dog on a blaze orange leash, especially trained for the purpose.
Violation of act results in fine not exceeding $100.00 or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 60 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Any blind person, mobility impaired person or hearing impaired person who uses a dog or other animal specifically trained as a guide, leader, listener or for any other assistance shall be entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of all public conveyances, hotels, lodging places, businesses open to the public.
Trainers of support dogs and other support animals shall have the same rights of accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges with support animals-in-training as those provided to blind, mobility impaired or hearing impaired persons with support animals under this section.
Violation is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.
The driver of every vehicle approaching an intersection or crosswalk must take necessary precautions to avoid injuring or endangering a pedestrian guided by a guide dog.
Violation incurs a fine of not more than $25.00 or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 10 days.
As used in sections 209.150 to 209.190, the term "service dog" means any dog specifically trained to assist a person with a physical or mental disability by performing necessary tasks or doing work which the person cannot perform. Such tasks shall include, but not be limited to, pulling a wheelchair, retrieving items, carrying supplies, and search and rescue of an individual with a disability.
"Service dog", a dog that is being or has been specially trained to do work or perform tasks which benefit a particular person with a disability.
"Mobility dog", a dog that is being or has been specially trained to assist a person with a disability caused by physical impairments.
(3) “Service dog team”, a team consisting of a trained service dog, a disabled person or child, and a person who is an adult and who has been trained to handle the service dog.
Every person with a visual, aural or other disability including diabetes shall have the right to be accompanied by a guide dog, hearing dog, or service dog, which is especially trained for the purpose, in any of the places listed in subsection 2 of this section without being required to pay an extra charge for the guide dog, hearing dog or service dog; provided that such person shall be liable for any damage done to the premises or facilities by such dog.
Any trainer, from a recognized training center, of a guide dog, hearing assistance dog or service dog, or any member of a service dog team, shall have the right to be accompanied by such dog in or upon any of the premises listed in section 209.150 while engaged in the training of the dog without being required to pay an extra charge for such dog.
Violation is a class B misdemeanor.
It is an unlawful employment practice for any employer to discriminate against any person with a visual, aural or physical disability by interfering, directly or indirectly, with the use of an aid or appliance, including a guide dog, hearing dog or service dog by such person. Any person aggrieved by a violation of this section may make a verified complaint to the Missouri commission on human rights pursuant to the provisions of section 213.075, RSMo.
Any person who knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly causes substantial physical injury to or the death of a service dog is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
Any person who knowingly or intentionally fails to exercise sufficient control over an animal such person owns, keeps, harbors, or exercises control over to prevent the animal from causing the substantial physical injury to or death of a service dog, or the subsequent inability to function as a service dog as a result of the animal's attacking, chasing, or harassing the service dog is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
Any person who harasses or chases a dog known to such person to be a service dog is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
Any person who owns, keeps, harbors, or exercises control over an animal and who knowingly or intentionally fails to exercise sufficient control over the animal to prevent such animal from chasing or harassing a service dog while such dog is carrying out the dog's function as a service dog, to the extent that the animal temporarily interferes with the service dog's ability to carry out the dog's function is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
Can also recover civil damages.
The driver of a vehicle approaching a person using a guide dog, hearing dog or service dog shall yield to such pedestrian, and any driver who fails to take such precautions shall be liable in damages for any injury caused such pedestrian and any injury caused to the pedestrian's guide dog, hearing dog or service dog.
Any person who knowingly impersonates a person with a disability for the purpose of receiving the accommodations regarding service dogs under the Americans with Disabilities Act is guilty of a class C misdemeanor and shall also be civilly liable for the amount of any actual damages resulting from such impersonation. Any second or subsequent violation of this section is a class B misdemeanor.
"Service animal" means a dog or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability.
A service animal in training that is a dog shall wear a leash, collar, cape, harness, or backpack that identifies in writing that the dog is a service animal in training. Other service animals in training must also be identifiable by written identification as a service animal in training. The written identification for service animals in training must be visible and legible from a distance of at least 20 feet.
A person with a disability has the right to be accompanied by a service animal or a service animal in training with identification.
A person with a disability who has a service animal or who obtains a service animal is entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations.
On a way of the state open to the public, the operator of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a blind pedestrian who is accompanied by a guide dog.
Any person other than a person wholly or partially blind who shall fail to come to a full stop when approaching or coming in contact with a person so being led by a trained guide dog or who shall fail to take precaution against accidents or injury to such person after coming to a stop is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $25.
A totally or partially blind person, deaf or hard of hearing person, or physically disabled person has the right to be accompanied by a service animal, especially trained for the purpose, and a bona fide trainer of a service animal has the right to be accompanied by such animal in training in any of the places listed.
Any person or agent of such person who denies or interferes with admittance to or enjoyment of public facilities or otherwise interferes with the rights of a bona fide trainer of a service animal when training such animal is guilty of a Class III misdemeanor.
when a person (a) intentionally injures, harasses, or threatens to injure or harass or (b) attempts to intentionally injure, harass, or threaten an animal that he or she knows or has reason to believe is a service animal for a blind or visually impaired person, a deaf or hearing-impaired person, or a physically limited person.
when a person (a) intentionally impedes, interferes, or threatens to impede or interfere or (b) attempts to intentionally impede, interfere, or threaten to impede or interfere with an animal that he or she knows or has reason to believe is a service animal for a blind or visually impaired person, a deaf or hearing-impaired person, or a physically limited person.
Violence on a service animal or interference with a service animal is a Class III misdemeanor.
A person commits the offense of failing to observe a blind person if when operating a vehicle, he or she fails to give special consideration to the bearer of a white cane or user of guide dog by stopping and remaining while bearer gets a safe distance beyond driving course.
Failure to observe a blind person is a Class III misdemeanor.
Every service animal shall be licensed as required by local ordinances or resolutions, but no license tax shall be charged.
A person commits unlawfully using a white cane or guide dog if not blind as defined by law and carries, displays, or otherwise makes use of a white cane or guide dog.
Unlawful use of a white cane or guide dog is a Class III misdemeanor.
"Service animal" means an animal that has been trained to assist or accommodate a person with a disability.
"Service animal in training" means an animal that is being trained to assist or accommodate a person with a disability.
charge an additional fee or deposit for a service animal, service animal in training or a police dog as a condition of access to the place of public accommodation.
A landlord may not refuse to rent a dwelling subject to the provisions of chapter 118A of NRS to a person with a disability solely because an animal will be residing with the prospective tenant in the dwelling if the animal assists, supports or provides service to the person with a disability.
1. Interfere with, or allow a dog or other animal he or she owns, harbors or controls to interfere with, the use of a service animal or service animal in training by obstructing, intimidating or otherwise jeopardizing the safety of the service animal or service animal in training or the person using the service animal or service animal in training (gross misdemeanor).
2. Willfully and maliciously beat a service animal or service animal in training (category E felony ).
3. Willfully and maliciously kill a service animal or service animal in training (category D felony).
Also owes restitution that must cover all costs for aides, assistance, transportation and other hardships incurred during the absence, and until the replacement, of the service animal or service animal in training.
Person who is blind and on foot and using a service animal or carrying a cane has the right-of-way. Driver must yield and take precautions. Violators shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 6 months or by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500, or by both fine and imprisonment.
Any person other than a person who is blind, deaf, or a person with a physical disability who uses a service animal is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Also, it is unlawful for a person to fraudulently misrepresent an animal as a service animal or service animal in training. Person is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500.
“Service animal” means any dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for purposes of this definition.
It is lawful for any service animal to accompany his or her handler or trainer into any public facility, housing accommodation, or place of public accommodation to which the general public is invited.
A service animal trainer, while engaged in the actual training process, shall have the same rights and privileges with respect to access to public facilities, and the same responsibilities as are applicable to persons with disabilities using a service animal.
It is unlawful for a person, directly or indirectly, either to prohibit, hinder, or interfere with a service animal's handler or trainer who otherwise complies with the limitations applicable to persons without disabilities.
Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
It is unlawful for any person to willfully interfere or attempt to interfere with a service animal.
I. Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to enhanced penalties in paragraphs II and III.
II. It is a misdemeanor if a person willfully causes physical injury to a service animal or willfully allows his or her animal to cause physical injury to a service animal. If the physical injury to a service animal is severe enough that a veterinarian or service animal trainer determines that the service animal is incapable of returning to service, that person shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
III. In any case where a person is convicted of harming a service animal as described in paragraph II, he or she may be ordered by the court to make restitution to the person or agency owning the animal for any bills for veterinary care, the replacement cost of the animal if it is incapable of returning to service, and the salary of the service animal handler or trainer for the period of time his or her services are lost to the agency or self employment.
The driver of a vehicle approaching a person using a service animal shall take all necessary precautions to avoid injury to that person, and any driver who fails to take such precautions shall be liable in damages for any injury caused to that person.
No fee shall be required for the registration and licensing of a guide dog which is used as a guide for a blind person, a hearing ear dog which is used by a deaf person, or a service dog which is used by a mobility impaired person.
“Service dog” means any dog individually trained to the requirements of a person with a disability including, but not limited to minimal protection work, rescue work, pulling a wheelchair or retrieving dropped items. This term shall include a “seizure dog” trained to alert or otherwise assist persons subject to epilepsy or other seizure disorders.
“Guide dog” shall mean a dog which has been or is being raised or trained to provide assistance to a blind or deaf person, including but not limited to a dog that has been or is being raised or trained by a volunteer puppy raiser or staff member of an organization generally recognized as being involved in the rehabilitation of the blind or deaf and reputable and competent to provide dogs with specialized training.
“Service animal” shall have the same meaning as set forth in the federal “Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990” (42 U.S.C. s.12101 et seq.) and any regulations under the act.
Any person with a disability accompanied by a service or guide dog trained by a recognized training agency or school is entitled, with his dog, to the full and equal enjoyment, advantages, facilities and privileges of all public facilities.
A person with a disability who has a service or guide dog, or who obtains a service or guide dog, shall be entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations.
A service or guide dog trainer, while engaged in the actual training process and activities of service dogs or guide dogs, shall have the same rights and privileges with respect to access to public facilities, and the same responsibilities as are applicable to a person with a disability.
Any person who intentionally interferes with the rights of a person with a disability, who is accompanied by a guide or service dog, or the function or the ability to function of a guide or service dog, shall be fined not less than $100 and not more than $500.
Also, person lawfully using "seeing-eye dog,” “hearing ear dog, “service dog,” or a guide or service dog trained by a recognized training agency or school may keep such animal in his or her immediate custody on public transportation.
A student with a disability, including autism, shall be permitted access for a service animal in school buildings, including the classroom, and on school grounds.
Any person who recklessly kills a service animal or guide dog, or who recklessly permits a dog that the person owns or over which the person has immediate control, to injure or kill a service animal or guide dog, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.
Any person who recklessly injures a service animal or guide dog, or recklessly permits a dog that the person owns or over which the person has immediate control, to injure a service animal or guide dog, is guilty of a disorderly persons offense.
Any person who recklessly interferes with the use of a service animal or guide dog, or who recklessly permits a dog that the person owns or over which that person has immediate control, to interfere with a service animal or guide dog, by obstructing, intimidating, or otherwise jeopardizing the safety of that service animal or guide dog or its handler, is guilty of a petty disorderly persons offense.
A person with a disability accompanied by a guide dog, or a guide dog instructor engaged in instructing a guide dog, shall have the right-of-way over vehicles while crossing a highway or any intersection.
Any blind person using as a guide a seeing-eye dog or other dog trained as a guide for the blind, equipped with a rigid "U"-shaped harness such as customarily used or any guide dog instructor engaged in instructing a guide dog shall have the right-of-way in crossing any highway or any intersection, and all drivers of vehicles shall yield the right-of-way.
Dogs used as guides for blind persons and commonly known as "seeing-eye" dogs, dogs used to assist handicapped persons and commonly known as "service dogs," or dogs used to assist deaf persons and commonly known as "hearing ear" dogs shall be licensed and registered as other dogs, except that the owner or keeper of such dog shall not be required to pay any fee.
Any person who fits a dog with a harness of the type commonly used by blind persons to represent that such dog is a guide dog when not trained as a guide dog shall be fined not less than $100 and not more than $500.
D. “qualified service miniature horse” means a miniature horse that has been trained or is being trained to work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
a person with a disability who is using a qualified service animal shall be admitted to any building open to the public and to all other public accommodations and shall be allowed access to all common carriers.
In an emergency requiring transportation or relocation of the owner or trainer of the qualified service animal, to the extent practicable, accommodations shall be made for the qualified service animal to remain or be reunited with the owner, trainer or handler.
A person who violates a provision of the Service Animal Act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Every totally or partially blind person shall have the right to be accompanied by a guide dog, specially trained for the purpose, in any of the places listed in this section without being required to pay an extra charge for the guide dog.
(2) intentionally fail or refuse to control the person's unrestrained animal, which animal interferes with or obstructs the owner, trainer or handler of the qualified service animal.
A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished pursuant to Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978. A person convicted under this section may be ordered to pay restitution, including, but not limited to, actual damages.
The driver of a vehicle approaching a totally or partially blind pedestrian who is using a guide dog shall take all necessary precautions to avoid injury to such blind pedestrian, and any driver who fails to take such precautions shall be liable in damages for any injury caused to such pedestrian.
No license fee shall be charged for the licensure of qualified service animals who are trained to lead partially or totally blind persons, aid hearing impaired persons or assist mobility impaired persons.
A person shall not knowingly present as a qualified service animal any animal that does not meet a definition of “qualified service animal” pursuant to Section 28-11-2 NMSA 1978.
“Service dog” means any dog that has been or is being individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, provided that the dog is or will be owned by such person or that person's parent, guardian or other legal representative.
“Service animal” shall mean any animal that has been partnered with a person who has a disability and has been trained or is being trained, by a qualified person, to aid or guide a person with a disability.
The term “guide dog”, “hearing dog” or “service dog” shall mean a dog which is properly harnessed and has been or is being trained by a qualified person, to aid and guide a person with a disability.
Persons qualified to train dogs to aid and guide persons with a disability, while engaged in such training activities, shall have the same rights and privileges set forth for persons with a disability in this article.
All common and contract carriers of passengers by motor vehicle shall permit a guide dog, hearing dog or service dog properly harnessed, accompanying a person with a disability.
It shall be a violation for the owner or custodian of any dog to fail to exercise due diligence in handling his or her dog if the handling results in harm to another dog that is a guide, hearing or service dog.
Any person who owns an animal or possesses control of such animal and who, through any act or omission, recklessly permits his or her animal to interfere with the proper working of a service animal, exposing the handler and service animal to danger or resulting in injury or death of the service animal shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 in addition to any other applicable penalties.
If previous incident, guilty of a violation punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000 or by a period of imprisonment not to exceed 15 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment in addition to any other applicable penalties.
Service animal handler also has right to pursue any and all civil remedies available to recover damages for medical and veterinary expenses, rehabilitation or replacement of the service animal, and lost wages, transportation expenses or other expenses directly related to the temporary or permanent loss of the service animal.
A person is guilty of harming a service animal in the first degree when, he or she commits the crime of harming a service animal in the second degree, and has been convicted of harming a service animal in the first or second degree within the prior 5 years.
Every driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection or crosswalk shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing or attempting to cross the roadway when such pedestrian is accompanied by a guide dog.
Municipalities may exempt from their licensing fees any guide dog, hearing dog, service dog, war dog, working search dog, detection dog, police work dog or therapy dog. Each copy of any license for such dogs shall be conspicuously marked “Guide Dog”, “Hearing Dog”, “Service Dog”, “Working Search Dog”, “War Dog”, “Detection Dog”, “Police Work Dog”, or “Therapy Dog”, as may be appropriate, by the clerk or authorized dog control officer.
It shall be a violation for any person to knowingly affix to any dog any false or improper identification tag, special identification tag for identifying guide, service or hearing dogs or purebred license tag.
Assistance animal.--An animal that is trained and may be used to assist a “person with a disability” as defined in G.S. 168A-3. The term “assistance animal” is not limited to a dog and includes any animal trained to assist a person with a disability as provided in Article 1 of Chapter 168 of the General Statutes.
The term "service animal" is used in "Article 1 - Rights" law, but not defined.
Every person with a disability has the right to be accompanied by a service animal trained to assist the person with his or her specific disability in any of the places listed in G.S. 168-3, and has the right to keep the service animal on any premises the person leases, rents, or uses.
The person qualifies for these rights upon the showing of a tag, issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, under G.S. 168-4.3, stamped “NORTH CAROLINA SERVICE ANIMAL PERMANENT REGISTRATION” and stamped with a registration number, or upon a showing that the animal is being trained or has been trained as a service animal. The service animal may accompany a person in any of the places listed in G.S. 168-3.
An animal in training to become a service animal may be taken into any of the places listed in G.S. 168-3 for the purpose of training when the animal is accompanied by a person who is training the service animal and the animal wears a collar and leash, harness, or cape that identifies the animal as a service animal in training.
Any person who knows or has reason to know that an animal is a law enforcement agency animal, an assistance animal, or a search and rescue animal and who willfully kills the animal is guilty of a Class H felony.
Any person who knows or has reason to know that an animal is a law enforcement agency animal, an assistance animal, or a search and rescue animal and who willfully causes or attempts to cause serious harm to the animal is guilty of a Class I felony.
Any person who knows or has reason to know that an animal is a law enforcement agency animal, an assistance animal, or a search and rescue animal and who willfully causes or attempts to cause harm to the animal is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Any person who knows or has reason to know that an animal is a law enforcement agency animal, an assistance animal, or a search and rescue animal and who willfully taunts, teases, harasses, delays, obstructs, or attempts to delay or obstruct the animal in the performance of its duty as a law enforcement agency animal, an assistance animal, or a search and rescue animal is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Any blind or partially blind pedestrian shall be entitled to the right-of-way at a crossing or intersection if such blind or partially blind pedestrian is accompanied by a guide dog.
It is unlawful to disguise a dog as an assistance dog.
Violation of this section shall be a Class 3 misdemeanor.
“Service animal” means any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal trained to do work, perform tasks, or provide assistance for the benefit of an individual with a disability. The term includes an animal trained to provide assistance or protection services to an individual with a disability, pull a wheelchair, lend balance support, retrieve dropped objects, or provide assistance in a medical crisis.
An individual with a disability is entitled to be accompanied by a service animal in places of public accommodations, common carriers, facilities of a health care provider, and all places to which the public is generally invited, without being required to pay an extra charge for the animal; provided, that the individual is liable for any damage done to the premises or facility by the animal.
Right to be accompanied by service animal applies to trainer of service animal under § 25-13-02.1.
Class A misdemeanor to deny admittance or interfere with rights (except for trainer of service animal).
Class C felony and subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000 if a person willfully and unjustifiably kills, shoots, tortures, torments, beats, kicks, strikes, mutilates, disables, or otherwise injures a service animal.
b. Interferes with a service animal while the animal is working.
If the driver of a motor vehicle approaches an individual who is blind or visually impaired and who is accompanied by a service animal, the driver shall take all reasonable precautions to avoid injury to the individual and the service animal.
Any driver who fails to take reasonable precautions is liable to the individual for any injury caused.
"Assistance dog” means a guide dog, hearing dog, or service dog that has been trained by a nonprofit special agency.
“Guide dog” means a dog that has been trained or is in training to assist a blind person.
“Hearing dog” means a dog that has been trained or is in training to assist a deaf or hearing-impaired person.
“Service dog” means a dog that has been trained or is in training to assist a mobility impaired person.
When either a blind, deaf or hearing impaired, or mobility impaired person or a trainer of an assistance dog is accompanied by an assistance dog, the person or the trainer, as applicable, is entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges of all public conveyances, hotels, lodging places, all places of public accommodation, amusement, or resort, all institutions of education, and other places to which the general public is invited.
No person shall knowingly cause, or attempt to cause, physical harm to an assistance dog if dog is engaged in assisting blind, deaf or hearing impaired, or mobility impaired person at the time or the person has actual knowledge that the dog is an assistance dog.
The driver of every vehicle shall yield the right of way to every blind pedestrian guided by a guide dog.
Violation is a minor misdemeanor.
When an application is made for registration of an assistance dog and the owner can show proof by certificate or other means that the dog is an assistance dog, the owner of the dog shall be exempt from any fee for the registration.
Under "Chapter 1, Services to the Blind. Guide Dogs:"
"Signal dog" means any dog trained to alert a deaf or hard-of-hearing person to intruders or sounds.
"Service animal" means an animal that is trained for the purpose of guiding or assisting a disabled person who has a sensory, mental, or physical impairment.
Any blind, physically handicapped, deaf or hard-of-hearing person who is a passenger on any common carrier or any other public conveyance or mode of transportation or any dog trainer from a recognized training center when in the act of training guide, signal, or service dogs shall be entitled to have with him or her a guide, signal, or service dog specially trained or being trained for that purpose, without being required to pay an additional charge.
A landlord shall not deny or terminate a tenancy to a blind, deaf, or physically handicapped person because of the guide, signal, or service dog of such person unless such dogs are specifically prohibited in the rental agreement entered into prior to November 1, 1985.
No person shall willfully harm, including torture, torment, beat, mutilate, injure, disable, or otherwise mistreat or kill a service animal that is used for the benefit of any handicapped person in the state.
No person shall willfully interfere with the lawful performance of any service animal used for the benefit of any handicapped person in the state.
Violation is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000.00, or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 1 year, or by both.
If violation occurs during commission of misdemeanor or felony, results in fine not exceeding $1,000.00, or by imprisonment in the Department of Corrections not exceeding 2 years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Any person who encourages, permits or allows an animal owned or kept by such person to fight, injure, disable or kill a service animal used for the benefit of any handicapped person in this state, or to interfere with a service animal in any place where the service animal resides or is performing commits misdemeanor.
Any driver of a vehicle who knowingly approaches within 15 feet of a person who is in the roadway or at an intersection and who is wholly or partially blind and who is using a dog guide wearing a specialized harness, or who is wholly or partially deaf and is using a signal dog wearing an orange identifying collar, or who is physically handicapped and is using a service dog, shall immediately come to a full stop and take such precautions before proceeding as may be necessary to avoid accident or injury to the person wholly or partially blind, deaf or physically handicapped.
Violation is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 3 months, or by fine not exceeding $100.00, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
No municipality or political subdivision of the state may enact or enforce any ordinance or rule that requires any registration or licensing fee for any service animal that is used for the purpose of guiding or assisting a disabled person who has a sensory, mental, or physical impairment.
Violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $50.00.
(a) “Assistance animal” means a dog or other animal designated by administrative rule that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual.
(b) “Assistance animal trainee” means an animal that is undergoing a course of development and training to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual that directly relate to the disability of the individual.
Rights for pedestrians who are blind or blind and deaf.
“Dog guide” means a dog that is wearing a dog guide harness and is trained to lead or guide a person who is blind.
A person with a physical impairment who uses an assistance animal may bring an action for economic and noneconomic damages against any person who steals or, without provocation, attacks the assistance animal (or against person who owns animal that attacks the assistance animal).
If attack results in death or animal not returned, damages shall include replacement costs.
If attack or theft results in injury and animal returns, damages shall include veterinary medical expenses, costs of temporary replacement assistance services.
A driver approaching a pedestrian who is blind or blind and deaf, who is carrying a white cane or accompanied by a dog guide, and who is crossing or about to cross a roadway, shall stop and remain stopped until the pedestrian has crossed the roadway.
Where the movement of vehicular traffic is regulated by traffic control devices, a driver approaching a pedestrian who is blind or blind and deaf shall stop and remain stopped until the pedestrian has vacated the roadway if the pedestrian has entered the roadway and is carrying a white cane or is accompanied by a dog guide. This paragraph applies notwithstanding any other provisions of the vehicle code relating to traffic control devices.
A license fee is not required to be paid for any dog kept by a person who is blind and who uses the dog as a guide. A license shall be issued for such dog upon the filing by the person who is blind of an affidavit with the county showing that the dog qualifies for exemption.
“Service dog.” Any dog which has been or is in the process of being trained as a guide dog, signal dog or has been trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, pulling a wheelchair or fetching dropped items.
"The practice or policy of discrimination against individuals or groups by reason of their . . . use of guide or support animals because of the blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals is a matter of concern of the Commonwealth."
"The opportunity for an individual to obtain employment for which he is qualified, and to obtain all the accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of any public accommodation and of any housing accommodation and commercial property without discrimination because of . . . the use of a guide or support animal because of the blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals is hereby recognized as and declared to be a civil right which shall be enforceable as set forth in this act."
A person is guilty of a summary offense to withhold or deny access to place of public accommodation to person who is using/training a guide, signal or service dog or other aid animal that has been certified by a recognized authority to assist a person.
Misdemeanor of 2nd degree if person willfully and maliciously harasses, annoys, injures, attempts to injure, molests or interferes with a dog guide for an individual who is blind, a hearing dog for an individual who is deaf or audibly impaired or a service dog for an individual who is physically limited.
Violation results in fine of not less than $500.
Misdemeanor of 1st degree if person willfully and maliciously kills, maims, mutilates, tortures or disfigures a dog guide for an individual who is blind, a hearing dog for an individual who is deaf or audibly impaired or a service dog for an individual who is physically limited. Person shall be required to make reparations for veterinary costs in treating the dog or the cost of obtaining and training a replacement dog.
Violation results in a fine of not less than $1,000 or to imprisonment for not more than 2 years, or both. A subsequent conviction under this paragraph shall be a felony of the 3rd degree.
Misdemeanor of the 3rd degree if a dog kills, maims or disfigures a guide dog, hearing dog, or service dog without provocation by the guide, hearing or service dog or the individual.
A person commits an offense under this subsection only if the person knew or should have known that the dog he owns or co-owns had a propensity to attack human beings or domestic animals without provocation and the owner or co-owner knowingly or recklessly failed to restrain the dog or keep the dog in a contained, secure manner.
Violation results in fine of not more than $5,000 and reparations for veterinary costs in treating guide, hearing, or service dog/replacement costs for dog.
Only results if the owner or co-owner knew the dog had a propensity to attack human beings or domestic animals and he or she failed to restrain the dog or keep the dog in a contained, secure manner.
A civil penalty of up to $15,000.
Reparations for veterinary costs in treating the guide, hearing or service dog and, if necessary, the cost of retraining the dog or of obtaining and training a replacement guide, hearing or service dog.
Loss of income for the time the individual is unable to work due to the unavailability of the guide, hearing or service dog.
The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to any totally or partially blind pedestrian accompanied by a guide dog and shall take such precautions as may be necessary to avoid injuring or endangering the pedestrian.
Violation is a summary offense punishable by a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $150.
License fee waiver only applies to service dogs used for aid or any municipal or State Police department or agency using a dog in the performance of the functions or duties of such department or agency.
“Guide dog” means a dog that has been or is being specially trained to aid a particular blind or visually impaired person.
“Hearing dog” means a dog that has been or is being specially trained to aid a particular deaf or hard-of-hearing person.
“Personal assistance animal” means a dog that has been or is being trained as a guide dog, hearing dog or service dog.
“Service dog” means a dog that has been or is being specially trained to aid a particular disabled person with a disability other than sight or hearing.
Every disabled person/trainer of assistance animal has the right to be accompanied by a personal assistance animal, specially trained for that person in any housing accommodation or in any listed public place.
The privileges of access and transportation provided to personal assistance animals is extended to family therapy pets which are further defined as primary companions which include, but are not limited to, dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs, that are working in the provision of pet assisted therapy treatment and education.
Access and transportation privileges are only extended while the family therapy pet is on the way to or actively participating in a program.
Violation is a misdemeanor punishable imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 6 months or by a fine of not less than $100, or by both fine and imprisonment. Also liable for actual damages for any economic loss and/or punitive damages, to be recovered by a civil action in a court in and for the county in which the infringement of civil rights occurred or in which the defendant lives.
Any blind or deaf person, who uses the services of a seeing-eye guide dog, or personal assistance animal or a hearing-ear signal dog, clearly identified as such by a yellow harness and trained by a recognized training agency or school, may enter any public facility of any public utility or common carrier in this state.
Every person with a disability who has a guide dog or other personal assistive animal, or who obtains a guide dog or other personal assistive animal, shall be entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations.
Owner of dog who dog kills, wounds, or worries, or assists in killing, wounding, or worrying, any seeing-eye dog certified for use as a guide-dog under harness or engaged in act of guiding owner, or if that dog assaults or bites the visually impaired person, the owner of offending dog must pay the blind or visually impaired guide-dog owner double all the damages sustained.
If the act occurs again, the owner of the offending dog owes treble damages and an order must be made by the court to kill the dog.
It is unlawful for any person to injure a personal assistance animal and shall be liable for the injuries to the assistance animal and if necessary the replacement and compensation for the loss of the personal assistance animal.
It is unlawful for the owner of a dog to allow that dog to injure a personal assistance animal because the owner failed to control or leash the dog. The owner shall also be liable for the injuries to the personal assistance dog and if necessary the replacement and compensation for the loss of the personal assistance animal.
Purposeful or negligent violation is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 6 months or by a fine of not less than $100, or by both fine and imprisonment.
Also liable for actual damages for any economic loss and/or punitive damages.
Whenever a pedestrian is crossing/attempting to cross a public street guided by a trained seeing-eye guide dog or a hearing-ear signal dog clearly identified as such by a yellow harness, approaching drivers must bring vehicles to a full stop and before proceeding shall take any precautions that may be necessary to avoid injuring the pedestrian.
Violation results in fine of fine not more than $250.
Any city or town may waive the fee to be charged to license guide dogs used by persons with disabilities.
"Guide dog" means a dog that is trained for the purpose of guiding blind persons or a dog trained for the purpose of assisting hearing impaired persons.
"Service animal" means an animal that is trained for the purposes of assisting or accommodating the sensory, mental, or physical disability of a disabled person.
Every handicapped person/trainer of assistance dog has the right to be accompanied by an assistance dog, especially trained for the purpose, in any of the listed public places.
A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined in the discretion of the court or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
Every handicapped person who has an assistance dog, or who obtains an assistance dog, is entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations provided for in this section.
Blind persons who are licensed by the Commission to operate vending facilities shall be allowed to have their guide dogs present with them while on public property.
Unlawful for person who has received notice that his or her behavior is interfering with the use of a guide dog or service animal to continue with reckless disregard to interfere with the use of a guide dog or service animal by obstructing, intimidating, or jeopardizing the safety of the guide dog or service animal or its user.
Unlawful for a person with reckless disregard to allow his or her dog that is not contained by a fence, a leash, or another containment system to interfere with the use of a guide dog or service animal by obstructing, intimidating, or otherwise jeopardizing the safety of the guide dog or service animal or its user.
Violation is a misdemeanor triable in magistrate's court and, upon conviction, is subject to the maximum fines and terms of imprisonment in magistrate's court.
Unlawful for a person with reckless disregard to injure, disable, or cause the death of a guide dog or service animal.
Unlawful for a person with reckless disregard to allow his dog to injure, disable, or cause the death of a guide dog or service animal.
Violation is a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than $2,500 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both.
Unlawful for a person to wrongfully obtain or exert unauthorized control over a guide dog or service animal with the intent to deprive the guide dog or service animal user of his guide dog or service animal.
Violation is a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than $2,000 or imprisoned not less than 1 year, or both.
Unlawful for a person to intentionally injure, disable, or cause the death of a guide dog or service animal, except in the case of self-defense or humane euthanasia.
Violation is a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than 3 years, or both.
A defendant convicted of a violation of this article may be ordered to make full restitution for damages including incidental and consequential expenses incurred by the guide dog or service animal and its user.
The driver of a vehicle approaching a totally or partially blind pedestrian who is carrying a cane predominantly white or metallic in color (with or without a red tip) or approaching a handicapped pedestrian using an assistance dog shall take all necessary precautions to avoid injury to the pedestrian. Any driver who fails to take these precautions is liable in damages for any injury caused the pedestrian.
Whenever a pedestrian is crossing or attempting to cross a public street or highway guided by a guide dog, the driver of every vehicle approaching the intersection shall bring the vehicle to a full stop before arriving and take such precautions as may be necessary to avoid injuring such pedestrian.
Violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding $25 or imprisonment for not exceeding 10 days.
Any person who is totally or partially physically disabled, totally or partially blind, or totally or partially deaf may be accompanied by a service animal in listed places of public accommodation.
Failure of any owner or employee of a listed place to comply with the provisions of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
No landlord may prohibit by lease or otherwise the keeping of a service animal by a person who is totally or partially physically disabled, totally or partially blind, or totally or partially deaf in an apartment or other rented or leased residential property.
No person may maliciously beat, injure, attempt to injure, harass, intimidate, entice, distract, or otherwise interfere with any service animal accompanying a person with a disability if the service animal is being controlled by the person and the service animal is wearing a harness or other control device normally used for service animals accompanying or leading persons with disabilities.
Whenever a pedestrian is crossing or attempting to cross a public street guided by a guide dog, the driver of every vehicle approaching the intersection must bring vehicle to a full stop before arriving at such intersection, and shall take such precautions as may be necessary to avoid injuring such pedestrian.
No proprietor, employee or other person in charge of any place of public accommodation, amusement or recreation shall refuse to permit a blind, physically disabled or deaf or hard of hearing person to enter the place or to make use of the accommodations for the reason that the blind, physically disabled or deaf or hard of hearing person is being led or accompanied by a dog guide.
Also applies to dog guide trainer.
A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
Every totally blind or partially blind person who has a guide dog, or who obtains a guide dog, shall be entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations included within subsection.
Any legally blind person in this state whose loss of sight necessitates a guide dog for mobility purposes, which has been obtained from a recognized school of training for such purposes, may not be denied the right to lease an apartment or other types of dwellings as a consequence of having a guide dog.
Any owner, manager, landlord or agent who refuses to lease living space to any legally blind person because of a guide dog, or violates a provision of this section, commits a Class C misdemeanor.
A person who intentionally or knowingly unlawfully injures the guide dog of another and, thereby, permanently deprives the owner of the use of the guide dog's services commits theft of that animal.
In determining the value of the guide dog, the court shall consider the value of the guide dog as both the cost of the dog as well as the cost of any specialized training the guide dog received.
A person commits aggravated cruelty to animals when, with aggravated cruelty and with no justifiable purpose, the person intentionally kills or intentionally causes serious physical injury to a companion animal.
Aggravated cruelty to animals is a Class E felony.
In addition to penalty, responsible for damages to animal.
If an unlawful act resulted in the death or permanent disability of a person's guide dog, then the value of the guide dog shall include, but shall not necessarily be limited to, both the cost of the guide dog as well as the cost of any specialized training the guide dog received.
A 2012 section was added that makes it an offense to maim or harm, or attempt to do so, or permit an animal owned to harm a service animal (violation is a Class A misdemeanor).
Under the law, it is an offense to knowingly interfere with a service animal in the performance of its duties (Class C misdemeanor).
In addition to any other penalty provided by this section, a person convicted shall be ordered by the court to make full restitution for all damages that arise out of or are related to the offense, including incidental and consequential damages incurred.
If a person's guide dog is killed or sustains injuries that result in death or permanent disability caused by the unlawful and intentional, or negligent, act of another or the animal of another, then the trier of fact may find the individual causing the death or the owner of the animal causing the death liable for economic damages, which shall include, but shall not necessarily be limited to, both the cost of the guide dog as well as the cost of any specialized training the guide dog received.
Whenever any pedestrian guided by a guide dog or dog on a blaze orange leash shall undertake to cross any public street drivers must bring such vehicle to a complete stop and before proceeding shall take all precautions necessary to avoid injuring the pedestrian.
Under Title 8, "Rights and Responsibilities of Persons with Disabilities:"
“Assistance animal” and “service animal” mean a canine that is specially trained or equipped to help a person with a disability and that is used by a person with a disability .
A state employee who is a person with a disability is entitled to a leave of absence without a deduction in salary for the purpose of attending a training program to acquaint the employee with an assistance dog to be used by the employee.
No person with a disability may be denied admittance to any public facility in the state because of the person's disability. No person with a disability may be denied the use assistance animal.
A person with a total or partial disability who has or obtains a service animal is entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations provided for in this section.
Provisions for equal access also applies to assistance animal in training.
An offense under this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $300 and 30 hours of community service.
The person with a disability deprived of his or her civil liberties may maintain a cause of action for damages in a court of competent jurisdiction, and there is a conclusive presumption of damages in the amount of at least $300 to the person with a disability.
A person may not assault, harass, interfere with, kill, or injure in any way, or attempt to assault, harass, interfere with, kill, or injure in any way, an assistance animal.
A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly attacks, injures, or kills an assistance animal.
A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly incites or permits an animal owned by or otherwise in the custody of the actor to attack, injure, or kill an assistance animal and, as a result of the person's conduct, the assistance animal is attacked, injured, or killed.
The driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection or crosswalk where a pedestrian guided by an assistance animal is crossing or attempting to cross shall take necessary precautions to avoid injuring or endangering the pedestrian.
A person who uses an assistance animal with a harness or leash of the type commonly used by persons with disabilities to represent that his or her animal is a specially trained service animal when not trained as such, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Punishable by a fine of not more than $300 and 30 hours of community service.
A person with a disability has the right to be accompanied by a service animal, unless the service animal is a danger or nuisance to others as interpreted under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 12102.
An owner or lessor of private housing accommodations may not, in any manner, discriminate against a person with a disability on the basis of the person's possession of a service animal.
A person who is not a person with a disability has the right to be accompanied by an animal that is in training to become a service animal or a police service canine.
Any person, or agent of any person, who denies or interferes with the rights provided in this chapter is guilty of a class C misdemeanor.
It is a class A misdemeanor for a person to knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly cause substantial bodily injury or death to a service animal.
the service animal's subsequent inability to function as a service animal as a result of the animal's attacking, chasing, or harassing the service animal.
It is a class B misdemeanor for a person to chase or harass a service animal.
It is a class B misdemeanor for a person who owns, keeps, harbors, or exercises control over an animal to knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly fail to exercise sufficient control over the animal to prevent it from chasing or harassing a service animal while it is carrying out its functions as a service animal, to the extent that the animal temporarily interferes with the service animal's ability to carry out its functions.
In addition to any other penalty, a person convicted of any violation of this section is liable for restitution to the owner of the service animal or the person with a disability whom the service animal serves for the replacement, training, and veterinary costs incurred as a result of the violation of this section.
the owner or keeper of any animal that without provocation attacks a service animal due to the owner's or keeper's negligent failure to exercise sufficient control over the animal to prevent the attack.
Notably, another section provides that any person may injure or kill a dog while the dog is attacking, chasing, or worrying a service animal, as defined in Section 62A-5b-10.
The operator of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a blind or visually impaired pedestrian accompanied by a guide dog specially trained for that purpose and equipped with a harness.
A person who fails to yield the right-of-way is liable for any loss or damage which results as a proximate cause of the failure to yield the right-of-way to blind or visually impaired persons.
(b) the person knowingly and intentionally misrepresents a material fact to a health care provider for the purpose of obtaining documentation from the health care provider necessary to designate an animal as a service animal as defined in Section 62A-5b-102.
“Guide dog” means a dog, whose status is reasonably identifiable individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability for purposes of guiding an individual with impaired vision, alerting an individual with impaired hearing to the presence of people or sounds, assisting an individual during a seizure, pulling a wheelchair, retrieving items, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability, and assisting with navigation.
It shall be unlawful for any person to discriminate in the sale or rental of a dwelling because a person relies upon aids such as attendants, specially trained animals, wheelchairs, or similar appliances or devices but the owner shall not be required to modify or alter the building in any way in order to comply with this chapter.
A person aggrieved by a violation of this chapter may file a charge of discrimination with the human rights commission or may bring an action for injunctive relief and compensatory and punitive damages and any other appropriate relief.
A person who violates a provision of this chapter shall be fined not more than $1,000.00.
No person shall recklessly injure or cause the death of a guide dog, or recklessly permit a dog he or she owns or has custody of to injure or cause the death of a guide dog. A person who violates this subsection shall be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $3,000.00, or both.
No person who has received notice or has knowledge that his or her behavior, or the behavior of a dog he or she owns or has custody of; is interfering with the use of a guide dog shall recklessly continue to interfere with the use of a guide dog, or recklessly allow the dog he or she owns or has custody of to continue to interfere with the use of a guide dog, by obstructing, intimidating, or otherwise jeopardizing the safety of the guide dog user or his or her guide dog. A person who violates this subsection shall be imprisoned not more than one year or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both.
(1) for a first offense, fined not more than $100.00.
(2) for a second or subsequent offense, fined not more than $250.00.
Whenever a pedestrian is crossing or attempting to cross a public street or highway, guided by a guide dog, drivers approaching intersection or crossing place must bring vehicles to a full stop before arriving, and before proceeding must take necessary precautions to avoid injuring the pedestrian.
“Service dog” means a dog trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a mobility-impaired or otherwise disabled person. The work or tasks performed by a service dog shall be directly related to the individual's disability or disorder. Examples of work or tasks include providing nonviolent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting an individual to the presence of allergens, retrieving items, carrying items, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability, and preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors. The provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship shall not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.
“Three-unit service dog team” means a team consisting of a trained service dog, a disabled person, and a person who is an adult and who has been trained to handle the service dog.
Every totally or partially blind person shall have the right to be accompanied by a dog, in harness, trained as a guide dog, every deaf or hearing-impaired person shall have the right to be accompanied by a dog trained as a hearing dog on a blaze orange leash, and every mobility-impaired or otherwise disabled person shall have the right to be accompanied by a dog, trained as a service dog, in a harness, backpack, or vest identifying the dog as a trained service dog, in any of the places listed in the law.
the person is part of a three-unit service dog team and is conducting continuing training of a service dog.
Every visually impaired person who has a guide dog, every hearing-impaired person who has a hearing dog, and every mobility-impaired or otherwise disabled person with a service dog shall be entitled to full and equal access with such dog to all housing accommodations provided for in this section. He shall not be required to pay extra compensation for such dog but shall be liable for any damage done to the premises by such dog.
Any circuit court having jurisdiction and venue on the petition of any person with a disability, shall have the right to enjoin the abridgement of rights set forth in this chapter and to order such affirmative equitable relief as is appropriate and to award compensatory damages and to award to a prevailing party reasonable attorneys' fees.
Class 3 misdemeanor to, without just cause, willfully impede or interfere with the duties performed by a dog if the person knows or has reason to believe the dog is a guide or leader dog.
Class 1 misdemeanor to, without just cause, willfully injure a dog if the person knows or has reason to believe the dog is a guide or leader dog.
Drivers approaching a totally or partially blind pedestrian using a dog guide shall take all necessary precautions to avoid injury.
Driver who fail to take such precautions shall be liable in damages for any injury caused such pedestrian and dog guide.
Drivers approaching totally or partially blind pedestrian crossing or attempting to cross a highway guided by a dog guide must make full stop before arriving at such intersection/crossing place.
Violation is a Class 3 misdemeanor.
No license tax shall be levied on any dog that is trained and serves as a guide dog for a blind person, that is trained and serves as a hearing dog for a deaf or hearing-impaired person, or that is trained and serves as a service dog for a mobility-impaired or otherwise disabled person.
As used in this section, “hearing dog,” “mobility-impaired person,” “otherwise disabled person,” and “service dog” have the same meanings as assigned in § 51.5-40.1.
In 2016, Virginia enacted a law that makes it a class 4 misdemeanor to knowingly and willfully fits a dog with a harness, collar, vest, or sign, or uses an identification card commonly used by a person with a disability, to represent that the dog is a service dog or hearing dog to fraudulently gain public access for such dog.
"Dog guide" means a dog that is trained for the purpose of guiding blind persons or a dog trained for the purpose of assisting hearing impaired persons.
“Dog guide” means a dog that is trained for the purpose of guiding blind persons or a dog that is trained for the purpose of assisting hearing impaired persons.
“Service animal” means an animal that is trained for the purpose of assisting or accommodating a sensory, mental, or physical disability of a person with a disability.
For the purpose of this chapter, "service animal" means an animal that is trained for the purposes of assisting or accommodating a disabled person's sensory, mental, or physical disability.
The right to be free from discrimination because of the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability is recognized as and declared to be a civil right.
Any person injured by any act in violation shall have a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin further violations, or to recover the actual damages or any other appropriate remedy authorized.
It shall be an unfair practice to commit an act which directly or indirectly results in any distinction, restriction, or discrimination on the basis of the use of a dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.
A food establishment shall make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures to permit the use of a miniature horse by an individual with a disability if the miniature horse has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of the individual with a disability.
It is an unfair practice for any person because of the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability to discriminate in real estate transactions.
Misdemeanor to continue, after notice, with reckless disregard to interfere with the use of a dog guide or service animal by obstructing, intimidating, or otherwise jeopardizing the safety of the dog guide or service animal user or his or her dog guide or service animal.
Second or subsequent violation of this subsection is a gross misdemeanor.
Also applies where person allows his or her dog to interfere with the use of a dog guide or service animal.
Any person who, with reckless disregard, injures, disables, or causes the death of a dog guide or service animal, or allows his or her dog to do so, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
Any person who intentionally injures, disables, or causes the death of a dog guide or service animal is guilty of a class C felony.
Any person who wrongfully obtains or exerts unauthorized control over a dog guide or service animal with the intent to deprive the dog guide or service animal user of his or her dog guide or service animal is guilty of theft in the first degree.
A person who negligently or maliciously kills or injures a dog guide or service animal is liable for a penalty of $1,000 to be paid to the user of the animal. The penalty shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other remedies or penalties, civil or criminal, provided by law.
A user or owner of a dog guide or service animal, whose animal is negligently or maliciously injured or killed, is entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred in pursuing any civil remedy.
The driver of a vehicle approaching a totally or partially blind pedestrian, hearing impaired pedestrian, or a person with physical disabilities using a dog guide/service animal shall take all necessary precautions to avoid injury to such pedestrian.
Any driver who fails to take such precaution shall be liable in damages for any injury caused such pedestrian. It shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to drive into or upon any crosswalk while such pedestrian using a dog guide/service animal is crossing.
A county, city, or town shall honor a request by a blind person or hearing impaired person not to be charged a fee to license his or her dog guide, or a request by a physically disabled person not to be charged a fee to license his or her service animal.
It shall be unlawful for any pedestrian who is not totally or partially blind, hearing impaired, or otherwise physically disabled to use a dog guide/service animal in any of the places, accommodations, or conveyances listed for the purpose of securing the rights and privileges accorded by the chapter to totally or partially blind, hearing impaired, or otherwise physically disabled people.
A “service animal” means any guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair or fetching dropped items.
Every person who is blind, every person with a hearing impairment and every person with a disability shall have the right to be accompanied by a service animal in any of the places, accommodations or conveyances specified without being required to pay an extra charge for the admission of the service animal.
The rights, privileges and responsibilities provided by this section also apply to any person who is certified as a trainer of a service animal while he or she is engaged in the training.
A service animal as defined is not required to be licensed or certified by a state or local government, nor shall there be any requirement for the specific signage or labeling of a service animal.
Violation is misdemeanor with a fine of up to $50.
The driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian who is blind or who has a disability and who knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the pedestrian is blind because the pedestrian is using a service animal or otherwise, shall exercise care commensurate with the situation to avoid injuring the pedestrian or the service animal.
No head tax may be levied against any guide or support dog especially trained for the purpose of serving as a guide, leader, listener or support for a blind person, deaf person or a person who is physically or mentally disabled because of any neurological, muscular, skeletal or psychological disorder that causes weakness or inability to perform any function. Guide or support dogs must be registered as provided by this section.
“Service dog” means a dog that is trained for the purpose of assisting a person with a sensory, mental, or physical disability or accommodating such a disability.
No person may refuse to permit entrance into, or use of, any public place of accommodation to person with a disability with a service animal, with exceptions.
Provisions only apply to service animal trainer if the animal accompanying the service animal trainer is wearing a harness or a leash and special cape.
If an individual's vision, hearing or mobility is impaired, it is discrimination for a person to refuse to rent or sell housing, cause eviction, require extra compensation, or engage in harassment because he or she keeps an animal that is specially trained to lead or assist the individual with impaired vision, hearing or mobility if all of the conditions listed in the law apply.
Recklessly interfere with the use of the service dog by obstructing or intimidating it or otherwise jeopardizing its safety or the safety of its user (class B misdemeanor).
Intentionally interfere with the use of the service dog by obstructing or intimidating it or otherwise jeopardizing its safety or the safety of its user (class A misdemeanor).
Recklessly allow his or her dog to interfere with the use of a service dog by obstructing or intimidating it or otherwise jeopardizing its safety or the safety of its user (class B misdemeanor).
Intentionally allow his or her dog to interfere with the use of a service dog by obstructing or intimidating it or otherwise jeopardizing its safety or the safety of its user (class A misdemeanor).
Recklessly injure a service dog or recklessly allow his or her dog to injure a service dog (class A misdemeanor).
Intentionally injure a service dog or intentionally allow his or her dog to injure a service dog (Class I felony).
Recklessly cause the death of a service dog (Class I felony).
Intentionally cause the death of a service dog (Class H felony).
Take possession of or exert control over a service dog without the consent of its owner or user and with the intent to deprive another of the use of the service dog (Class H felony).
An operator of a vehicle shall stop the vehicle before approaching closer than 10 feet to a pedestrian who is using a service animal, and shall take such precautions as may be necessary to avoid accident or injury to the pedestrian.
"Service dog" means a dog which has been or is being specially trained to the requirements of a person with a disability.
Any blind, partially blind, deaf, hearing impaired person or other person with a disability who is a passenger on any common carrier, airplane, motor vehicle, railroad train, motor bus, boat or any other public conveyance operating within the state may have a service dog with him or her.
Any person violating this section is subject to a fine not to exceed $750.00.
Any person who knowingly, willfully and without lawful cause or justification inflicts, or permits or directs any animal under his or her control or ownership to inflict, serious bodily harm, permanent disability or death upon any service dog is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 6 months, a fine of not more than $750.00, or both.
The driver of a vehicle approaching a blind, partially blind, deaf or hearing impaired pedestrian using a guide dog shall take all necessary precautions to avoid injury to the pedestrian.
Any driver failing to take these precautions is liable in damages for any injury caused the pedestrian.

References: § 21
 § 21
 § 21
 § 30850
 § 46
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 § 143
 § 56
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 § 3961
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 § 25
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 § 51