10 DIGIT ID CODE

WASHINGTON SERVICE DOG LAWS

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DEFINITIONS:

"Dog guide" means a dog that is trained for the purpose of guiding blind persons or a dog trained for the purpose of assisting hearing impaired persons.

"Service animal" means an animal that is trained for the purposes of assisting or accommodating a disabled person's sensory, mental, or physical disability.

UNDER “WHITE CANE LAW” DEFINITIONS:

For the purpose of this chapter, "service animal" means an animal that is trained for the purposes of assisting or accommodating a disabled person's sensory, mental, or physical disability. West’s RCWA 70.84.020

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ACCOMMODATION LAW

The right to be free from any discrimination with the use of trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disability is recognized as and declared to be a civil right. West’s RCWA49.60.030

 

It is unfair practice for any person or employee to commit an act which directly or indirectly results in any distinction, restriction, or discrimination of any person to pay a larger sum than the uniform rates charged other persons on the basis of the use of a dog guide or service animal by a person with disability.

 

Food establishment make a reasonable modifications in the policies and procedures to permit the use of guide dog or a service animal by an individual with disability and for their benefit as well.

 

HARASSMENT OF INTERFERENCE WITH SERVICE DOGS

Any person who allows his or her dog interfere with the use of a dog guide or service animal by obstructing, intimidating, or otherwise jeopardizing the safety ofhis or her dog guide or service animal is guilty of a misdemeanor, except as a subsequent violation of this subsection is a gross misdemeanor.

 

Any person who, with reckless disregard, injures, disables, or causes the death of a dog guide or service animal is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

 

Any person who, with reckless disregard, allows his or her dog to injure, disables, or cause the death of a dog guide or service animal is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

 

Any person who intentionally injures, disables, or causes the death of a dog guide or service animal is guilty of a class C felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW.

 

Restitution for a conviction under this section shall include, but is not limited to:

1. the value of the replacement of an incapacitated or deceased dog guide or service animal

2. training of a replacement dog guide or service animal

3. all related veterinary and care expenses; and

4. compensation for wages or earned income lost by the dog guide or service animal user.

West’s RCWA 9.91.170

A person who negligently or maliciously kills or injures a dog guide or service animal is liable for a penalty of one thousand dollars, to be paid to the user of the animal. It is an addition to and not in lieu of any other remedies or penalties, civil or criminal, provided by law.

The of a dog guide or service animal, whose animal is negligently or maliciously injured or killed, is entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred in pursuing any civil remedy. West’s RCWA 49.60.370

 

DRIVING LAW

The vehicle driver approaching a totally or partially blind pedestrian, a person with physical disabilities, or a person with a disability using a wheelchair who is accompanied by a dog guide, as defined in RCW 46.04.415 shall take all necessary precautions to avoid injury to such pedestrian or wheelchair user.

 

Failure to take such precaution shall be liable in damages for any injury caused such pedestrian or wheelchair user. West’s RCWA 70.84.040

 

LICENSING LAW

The request of a blind or a hearing impaired person shall be honored by a county, city, and they are charged a fee to license his or her dog guide, or a request by a physically disabled person not to be charged a fee to license his or her service animal. West’s RCWA 49.60.380

 

 

FRAUDULENT REPRESENTATION

It shall be unlawful for any pedestrian who is not totally or partially blind to use a service dog, and who is not hearing impaired to use a dog guide, who is not otherwise physically disabled to use a service animal in any of the places, accommodations, or conveyances listed in RCW 70.84.010 for the purpose of securing the rights and privileges accorded by the chapter to totally or partially blind, hearing impaired, or otherwise physically disabled people. West’s RCWA 70.84.060