New Jersey statute

N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3.2 — Offenses against service animals, guide dogs, degree of crime; penalties, restitution

Current through P.L.2025, c.346, and J.R.22

Part of Chapter 29, New Jersey Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Offenses against service animals, guide dogs, degree of crime; penalties, restitution

Full text of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3.2

Statutory text current through the P.L.2025, c.346, and J.R.22. This publication reproduces the official text of the New Jersey Statutes from the statute files published by the New Jersey Legislature; it is not the official statutes of the State of New Jersey.

N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3.2Primary source, current through the P.L.2025, c.346, and J.R.22

1. a. Any person who recklessly kills a service animal or guide dog, or who recklessly permits a dog that the person owns or over which the person has immediate control, to injure or kill a service animal or guide dog, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. b. Any person who recklessly injures a service animal or guide dog, or recklessly permits a dog that the person owns or over which the person has immediate control, to injure a service animal or guide dog, is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. c. Any person who recklessly interferes with the use of a service animal or guide dog, or who recklessly permits a dog that the person owns or over which that person has immediate control, to interfere with a service animal or guide dog, by obstructing, intimidating, or otherwise jeopardizing the safety of that service animal or guide dog or its handler, is guilty of a petty disorderly persons offense. d. A person who is convicted of a violation of this section, in addition to any other penalty, shall make full restitution for all damages that arise out of or are related to the offense, including incidental and consequential damages incurred by the handler of the service animal or guide dog. Restitution under this section shall include, but not be limited to: (1) the value of the service animal or guide dog; (2) replacement and training or retraining expenses for the service animal or guide dog and the handler; (3) veterinary and other medical and boarding expenses for the service animal or guide dog; (4) medical expenses for the handler; and (5) lost wages or income incurred by the handler during any period that the handler is without the services of the service animal or guide dog. e. As used in this section: "Guide dog" shall mean a dog which has been or is being raised or trained to provide assistance to a blind or deaf person, including but not limited to a dog that has been or is being raised or trained by a volunteer puppy raiser or staff member of an organization generally recognized as being involved in the rehabilitation of the blind or deaf and reputable and competent to provide dogs with specialized training. "Service animal" shall have the same meaning as set forth in the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990" (42 U.S.C. s.12101 et seq.) and any regulations under the act. L.2013, c.205, s.1.

Official sources

justia: N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3.2

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

What degree of offense is offenses against service animals, guide dogs, degree of crime; penalties, restitution in New Jersey?

It depends on the circumstances: offenses against service animals, guide dogs, degree of crime; penalties, restitution ranges from a petty disorderly persons offense to a crime of the fourth degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3.2.

Reckless killing of service animal or guide dog: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3.2) · Reckless injury of service animal or guide dog: disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3.2) · Reckless interference with service animal or guide dog: petty disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3.2)

Which New Jersey statute covers offenses against service animals, guide dogs, degree of crime; penalties, restitution?

Offenses against service animals, guide dogs, degree of crime; penalties, restitution is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3.2 (Offenses against service animals, guide dogs, degree of crime; penalties, restitution).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.