Alabama Service Dog Laws

No Comments January 2, 2016

Definitions

Under Chapter 7 – Rights of Blind and Otherwise Physically Disabled Persons:

For the purposes of this section, the term service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.
Ala. Code 1975 § 21-7-4.

Accommodation Law

Every person with a disability, including a person who is:

totally or partially blind
hearing-impaired,
diagnosed on the autism spectrum

shall have the right to be accompanied by a service animal in any public place, including a public or private school, and any of the places listed in Section 21-7-3.

The person may not be required to pay an extra charge for the service animal.

Ala. Code 1975 § 21-7-4.

Any person, firm or corporation, or the agent of any person, firm or corporation, who denies or interferes with admittance to or enjoyment of the public facilities or otherwise interferes with the rights of a totally or partially blind or otherwise disabled person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Ala. Code 1975 § 21-7-5.

Driving Law

The driver of a vehicle approaching a totally or partially blind pedestrian who is using a guide dog, or a person employed by an accredited school for training guide dogs who provides notice shall take all necessary precautions prescribed by law to avoid injury to the blind pedestrian, and the dog trainer.

Any driver who fails to take all necessary precautions shall be liable in damages for any injury caused the pedestrian, or the guide dog trainer.

Ala. Code 1975 § 21-7-6.

2016 Code of Alabama
Title 13A – CRIMINAL CODE.
Chapter 11 – OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND SAFETY.
Article 10A – Service Dogs.
Section 13A-11-232 – Harassment of service dog.

Universal Citation: AL Code § 13A-11-232 (2016)

Section 13A-11-232

Harassment of service dog.

(a) It is unlawful for a person who has received notice that his or her behavior is harassing to a dog the person knows or has reason to believe is a service dog to continue that behavior with malice or reckless disregard.
(b) It is unlawful for a person with reckless disregard to allow his or her dog that is not contained by a fence, a leash, or other containment system to harass a service dog.
(c) A person who violates subsection (a) or (b) is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.