10 DIGIT ID CODE

VERMONT SERVICE DOG LAWS

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UNDER  SUB CHAPTER 1 (Cruelty to Animals):

DEFINITIONS AS USED IN THIS SECTION:

“Guide dog” means: A dog 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.

“Custody” means: The care, control, and maintenance of a dog.

 

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION LAW

An owner or operator of a place of public accommodation or an employee of such owner are shall not prohibit an individual with disability accompanied by a service animal and an individual’s training an animal to perform as a service animal from entering a place of accommodation.

 

No individual with a disability shall be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefit of the services, facilities, goods, privileges, advantages, benefits, or accommodations, or be subjected to discrimination by any place of public accommodation on the basis of his or her disability.

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HARASSMENT OF INTERFERENCE WITH SERVICE DOGS

No person shall recklessly interfere with the use of a guide dog or permits a dog he or she owns, by obstructing, intimidating, or otherwise jeopardizing the safety of the guide dog user. A person who violates this subsection commits a civil offense and shall be:

1. for a first offense, fined not more than $100.00.

2. for a second or subsequent offense, fined not more than $250.00.

No person shall recklessly injure or be the cause of the guide dog’s death, 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. 13 V.S.A. § 355

 

DRIVING LAW

Whenever a pedestrian is crossing or attempting to cross a public street or highway, guided by a guide dog or carrying in a raised or extended position a cane or walking stick, white in color or white tipped with red, the driver of every vehicle approaching the intersection, or place where the pedestrian is attempting to cross, shall bring his or her vehicle to a full stop before arriving at the intersection or place of crossing and before proceeding shall take such precautions as may be necessary to avoid injuring the pedestrian.

 

It is unlawful for any person, unless totally or partially blind or otherwise having a severe visual disability, while on any public street or highway, to carry in a raised or extended position a cane or walking stick which is white in color or white tipped with red. 23 V.S.A. § 1057