It's about time this is happening, don't you think? Jail time now possible if you have a fake service animal In Florida.

2015-10-24T19:43:46-04:00

Having a fake servic doe I'd already a Federal offense, but Florida has taken it one step further. I wish every state would make it against the state law and put those creeps in jail.

ORLANDO --
A new Florida law means jail time if you pose your pet as a service animal.

Starting July 1, anyone who lies about their animals being a guide or service animal could face up to 60 day in Jail.
For guide dog owners like Richard Darrington, this new law could help discourage imposters.

“I think it will cause people who are on the fence to think before moving forward with the decision,” Darrington explained.

He said that’s important because he is constantly asked whether his dog, Malcolm, is certified and trained.
Darrington is legally blind and needs Malcolm, who was trained for two years to be a guide dog to help him get around.

“I’m questioned all the time, ‘Is this a real guide dog?’” Darrington said. “I know part of that is because there are others out there that are masquerading and that hampers my ability to do what I need to do.”

If the dog is found to be wearing false identifiers, and isn’t properly trained then the owner will go to jail.

http://www.mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2015/7/1/service_dogs_law.html

Jail time now possible if you have a fake service animal

A new Florida law means jail time if you pose your pet as a service animal.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2015 8:07 PM

2015-10-24T20:07:35-04:00

Is this a problem?
Are cases so rampant that legislation was necessary?
Seems like overkill to me.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Oct 24 at 2015 11:05 PM

2015-10-24T23:05:22-04:00

That's great to hear, however, how will you determine if a "service animal" is fake or not as they aren't all required to actually wear anything that would identify them as such? And according to the ADA, it's kinda difficult for anyone to prove an animal is or is not if the animal is very well behaved.
http://www.ada.gov/archive/qasrvc.htm
http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

Commonly Asked Questions About Service Animals in Places of Business

The ADA Home Page provides access to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations for businesses and State and local governments, technical assistance materials, ADA Standards for Accessible Design, links to Federal agencies with ADA responsibilities and information, updates on new ADA requirements, streaming video, information about Department of Justice ADA settlement agreements, consent decrees, and enforcement activities and access to...

Response by MSgt John Carroll made Oct 25 at 2015 11:00 AM

2015-10-25T11:00:38-04:00

I don't know how they can enforce it. The American's with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 2010 limits the questions that can be asked, and documentation isn't required. Establishments are allowed to ask 2 questions. 1. "is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task." That is quoted directly from the ADA website, ADA.gov

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2015 11:32 PM

2015-10-26T23:32:08-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member Airlines have started cracking down on this too because so many people have been getting their pets classified as service animals by getting their doctors to sign off on a statement that the pets are "emotional support animals".