[Wasagdu] HB2822

[Becky Frankeberger]

Washington House Approves Fines For People Who Lie About Non-Trained Service
Animals By Doug Nadvornick . Feb 8, 2018
http://spokanepublicradio.org/post/washington-house-approves-fines-people-wh
o-lie-about-non-trained-service-animals

 

People with trained service animals helped write a bill in the Washington
legislature that would fine owners who fraudulently claim their animals are
trained.

Credit Spokane Cares    

The Washington House has taken a step toward punishing people who
misrepresent their animals as service animals.

 

The chamber on Thursday approved a bill that gives law enforcement officers
the right to question animal owners if it's not obvious the person has a
disability. If it's determined the owner is lying, the officer can write a
ticket that carries a fine of up to $500.

 

Supporters say many people take advantage of the federal law that allows
trained service animals to accompany their owners anywhere.

 

"When we start having issues in our grocery stores, our libraries, our
restaurants, where people are bringing in not only service dogs that are not
service dogs, but also other animals, animals such as a snake or a cat and
trying to misrepresent them as service animals, then we have trouble for
citizens and for especially those in the disabled community who support this
bill," said Rep. Joan McBride (D-Kirkland).

 

Rep. Vincent Buys (R-Lynden) says people with trained service animals helped
to craft the bill.

 

"Having non-trained service animals or emotional service animals, emotional
support animals, it is very distracting and I think it does a disservice to
those citizens that need that support," Buys said.

 

The vote in the House was unanimous. The bill now moves to the Senate.

 

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