(a) It is a violation of this chapter for an individual to take an animal into a public area where pets are not permitted, and state that the animal is a service animal entitled to be present, if the animal is not a service animal. (b) Businesses may post a decal suitable in a front window or door, stating that service animals are welcome and that misrepresentation of a service animal is a violation of Rhode Island law. (c) It shall be a violation for any individual to misrepresent a pet or any other animal as a service animal when attempting to gain access to or remain in a public area. A violation of this section occurs when: (1) An individual expressly represents that an animal in his or her possession is a service animal for the purpose of obtaining any rights or privileges afforded to persons with disabilities accompanied by service animals, but unavailable to people and their pets or other animals; and (2) The individual knew or should have known that the animal in question did not meet the definition of a service animal. (d) A violation of this section shall be deemed a civil violation, punishable by up to thirty (30) hours should have known that the animal in question did not meet the definition of a service animal. (d) A violation of this section shall be deemed a civil violation, punishable by up to thirty (30) hours of community service for an organization that serves individuals with disabilities at the discretion of the court. History of Section.P.L. 2019, ch. 96, § 2; P.L. 2019, ch. 131, § 2.
Rhode Island Legal Code