Service dog laws in Florida protect the animal.
Service dogs are used by people who are disabled mentally or physically. The disabled person using a service dog may be blind, deaf, mute or even be prone to seizures. Service animals are to be allowed in any public place, public employment and housing accommodations. There are service dog laws in Florida to protect the rights of these animals and the disabled persons utilizing them.
Disabled Individual
Any person who is blind or otherwise visually impaired, deaf or otherwise hard of hearing, or otherwise physically or mentally challenged can be included in the disabled category. Hard of hearing is defined as hearing impaired to the point of needing amplification devices (hearing aids). Physically disabled is defined as a person who has a physical impairment that limits one or more life activities, such as being confined to a wheelchair or not having use of all appendages.
Housing Accommodation
A housing accommodation includes any place where one or more people sleep, not including a single-family residence. Service animals are permitted at any housing accommodation. Examples of a housing accommodation would be a hotel or motel, and college dormitory.
Public Accommodation
A public accommodation is basically any place, shelter or building accessible to the public. An example of this would be an airplane, train or other lodging place. Service animals are permitted at any public accommodation when accompanying a disabled person.
Service Dog
A service dog is an animal specifically trained to assist a disabled person whether guiding the visually impaired, alerting the hearing impaired or protecting and supporting a person having a seizure.
Employment
No employer may discriminate against any person because of a disability or a service animal by terminating employment or failing to hire. Discrimination of a disabled person, with a service dog, is punishable as a second degree misdemeanor.
Abuse
Any interference with a service animal is punishable as a second degree misdemeanor. No person may interfere, obstruct, intimidate or otherwise jeopardize the service animal.
No person may intentionally kill, injure, abuse or otherwise hurt a service animal. Persons who abuse or kill a service animal are subject to a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Traffic Rules
A car approaching an intersection must come to a complete stop when a disabled or blind person is crossing with their service dog. Cars must also take any extra precaution necessary to avoid injuring the person or service dog. Failure to take such precautions can lead to a conviction of this violation.
Training Interference
Any person, company, firm or group who denies or interferes with a service dog or training of a service dog will be punishable of committing a second degree misdemeanor.
Tags: service animal, disabled person, degree misdemeanor, second degree, second degree misdemeanor, Service animals, with service