(a) For the purposes of this section, the term:
(1) “Police animal” means a dog, horse, or other animal used by a law enforcement agency, correctional facility, police department, fire department, or search and rescue unit or agency for the purpose of aiding in the detection of criminal activity, enforcement of laws, apprehension of criminal offenders, or search and rescue efforts, whether or not the dog, horse, or other animal is engaged in the performance of its official duties when a violation of this section occurs.
(2) “Significant bodily injury” means an injury that requires hospitalization or immediate medical attention.
(b)(1) Any person who intentionally and without justifiable and excusable cause, harasses, interferes with, injures, or obstructs a police animal when he or she has reason to believe the animal is a police animal shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned not more than 180 days or fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01, or both.
(2) Any person who violates subsection (b) of this section and causes significant bodily injury to, or the death of, a police animal shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, or fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01, or both.
(3) The penalties set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection shall also apply to an owner or keeper of a dog or other animal who intentionally and without justifiable and excusable cause fails to restrain the dog or animal from attacking a police animal when the owner or keeper has reason to believe the animal is a police animal.
(Apr. 24, 2015, D.C. Law 20-242, § 2, 61 DCR 8312.)
Copyright ©2024 LegalFix. All rights reserved. LegalFix is not a law firm, is not licensed to practice law, and does not provide legal advice, services, or representation. The information on this website is an overview of the legal plans you can purchase—or that may be provided by your employer as an employee benefit or by your credit union or other membership group as a membership benefit.
LegalFix provides its members with easy access to affordable legal services through a network of independent law firms. LegalFix, its corporate entity, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and contractors do not provide legal advice, services, or representation—directly or indirectly.
The articles and information on the site are not legal advice and should not be relied upon—they are for information purposes only. You should become a LegalFix member to get legal services from one of our network law firms.
You should not disclose confidential or potentially incriminating information to LegalFix—you should only communicate such information to your network law firm.
The benefits and legal services described in the LegalFix legal plans are not always available in all states or with all plans. See the legal plan Benefit Overview and the more comprehensive legal plan contract during checkout for coverage details in your state.
Use of this website, the purchase of legal plans, and access to the LegalFix networks of law firms are subject to the LegalFix Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.