| Service Dogs Save Lives! |
| Maine |
| State Has Laws Regarding: Guide: Yes Hearing: Yes Service: Yes Statute Regarding Accessibility: Guide and Service Dogs - Title 17, Chapter 47, Section 1312 (1997), Hearing Dogs Title 26, Chapter 19, Section 1420-A (1996) Locations Allowed: Full and free use of the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings, and public facilities. To equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges of all common carriers, airplanes, motor vehicles, railroad trains, motor buses, street cars, boats or any other public conveyances or modes of transportation, 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 and applicable alike to all persons. Statute Regarding Interference: 1314 (1981) and 1420-C (1996) Interference Includes: Any person or his agent who denies or interferes with admittance to or enjoyment of the public facilities enumerated in sections 1314 or 1420-A or otherwise interferes with the rights of a blind, deaf, or hearing impaired person under section 1312 or 1420-A. Statute Regarding Housing: 1312(6) (1997), & 1420-A Housing Includes: Any real property, or portion of real property, which is used or occupied as the home, residence, or sleeping place of one or more human beings, including, but not limited to public housing projects, and all forms of publicly assisted housing, single and multifamily rental and sale units, lodging places, condominiums, and cooperative apartments. "Housing accommodations" does not include: A. The rental of a housing accommodation in a building which contains housing accommodations for not more than 2 families living independently of each other, if the owner or member of the owner's family reside in that housing accommodation; or B. The rental of a room or rooms in a housing accommodation, if the rental is by the occupant of the housing accommodation or by the owner of the housing accommodation and the owner or members of the owner's family reside in that housing accommodation. Statute Regarding Owner Licenses and Fees: 3922 (1995) and 3923-A(3)(A,B,C) (1995) Licenses or Fee Requirements: No fee can be charged for a license. Identification Requirements: Hearing dog must wear hunter orange leash and collar and have identification card issued by the Bureau of Rehabilitation. Misrepresentation of Disability: 1314 (1981) and 1420-C (1996) Misrepresenting a Guide or Hearing dog is a civil violation. Trainers Allowed With Dogs: 1312(4) (1997) and 1420-A(4) (1987) Guide dog trainer, while engaged in the actual training process and activities of guide dogs, shall have the same rights, privileges, and responsibilities with respect to access to public facilities as are applicable to a blind, visually handicapped, or otherwise physically disabled person. Trainers Requirements: 1312(4) (1997) and 1420-A(4) (1996) Especially trained assistance dog trainer. White Cane Law Statute: 1313 (1997) and 1420-B (1996) White Cane Proclamation: 1315 (1971) White cane Safety Day October 15th Killing or Injury to Dog: 3961-A A person who owns or keeps a dog that attacks, injures or kills a service dog while the service dog is in discharge of its duties commits a civil violation. Restitution to the owner of the service dog for any veterinary bills and necessary retraining costs or replacement costs of the dog if it is disabled or killed. Penalties for Interference: Commits a class E Crime Summary of Law: Maine law guarantees a blind, deaf or physically disabled person has the legal right to be accompanied by a specially trained dog in housing, all public accommodations, and on all common carriers. No extra charge can be levies because of the dog's presence, but the dog user is liable for any damage the dog might cause to the premises. Hearing dog must have bright orange collar and leash. The deaf person must carry an identification card issued by the Bureau of Rehabilitation. |
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