| Service Dogs Save Lives! |
| State Has Laws Regarding: Guide: Yes Hearing: Yes Service: Yes Statute Regarding Accessibility: Civil Code Division 1 sections 54.1 (1996), 54.2 (1996) and 54.7 (1994) Penal Code section 365.5 (1996) Locations Allowed: As other members of the general public, to accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges of all common carriers, airplanes, motor vehicles, railroad trains, motorbuses, streetcars, boats or any other public conveyances or modes of transportation, telephone facilities, hotels, lodging places, places of public accommodation, amusement or resort, and other places to which the general public is invited, subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law, or state or federal regulation, and applicable alike to all persons. Statute Regarding Interference: 54.3 (1996), 55 (1974), 55.1 (1994) and 365.6 (1996) 417. 27 (1999) Interference Includes: Any person, firm, association, or corporation, or agent of any person, firm, association, or corporation, who prevents a blind person, deaf person, or physically disabled person from exercising the rights specified in this section is guilty of an infraction. Pointing a laser pointer into the eyes of an assistance dog. Statute Regarding Housing: 54.1 (1996) Housing Includes: All housing accommodation except room in single family home. Identification Requirements: 30850 (1996) Identification tag issued by the county clerk, animal control department, or other agency. Misrepresentation of Disability: 365.7 (1994) 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 as, to be qualified as, or identified as, a guide, signal or service dog, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by both that fine and imprisonment. Trainers Allowed With Dogs: 54.1 (c) (1996) and 54.2 (b) (1996) may take dogs, for the purpose of training them, in any places specified in section 54.1 (a) and (b) without being required to pay an extra charge for the dog. Trainers Requirements: Visually impaired or blind persons and persons licensed to train guide dogs for the blind, persons who are deaf or hearing impaired and persons authorized to train signal dogs and individuals with a disability and persons authorized to train service dogs These persons shall ensure the dog is on a leash and tagged as a guide dog, signal dog, or service dog by an identification tag issued by the county clerk, animal control department, or other agency. Licensed guide dog trainers shall carry or display, upon request, identification in such forms as shall be prescribed by the State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Trainers shall be liable for any damage done to premises or facilities by such a dog. White Cane Law Statute: 54.5 (1994) White Cane Proclamation: 54.5 (1994)-White Cane Safety Day October 15th Killing or Injury to Dog: 600.2 (1994) and 600.5 (1994) Any person to permit any dog which is owned, harbored or controlled by him or her to cause injury to or the death of any guide, signal, or service dog, while the dog is in discharge of its duties, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Includes penalties and Restitution. Penalties for Interference: Any amount as may be determined by a jury, or the court sitting without a jury, up to a maximum of three times the amount of actual damages but in no case less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250), and such attorney's fees as may be determined by the court in addition thereto, suffered by any persons denied any of the rights provided in Sections 54, 54.1, and 54.2. Summary of Law: California law guarantees a blind, deaf, or physically disabled person has the legal right to be accompanied by a specially trained dog in all public accommodations and on all common carriers. No extra charge can be levied because of the dog's presence, but the dog user is liable for any damage the dog might cause to the premises. For purposes of California state income tax, all costs for the maintenance of a dog are deductible as medical expenses. Any zoo or wild animal park that does not permit guide dogs to accompany blind persons therein shall maintain, free of charge, adequate kennel facilities for the use of guide dogs belonging to blind persons. |
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