Sec. 53-330a. Access to public transportation and places of public accommodation for volunteer canine search and rescue teams.

      Sec. 53-330a. Access to public transportation and places of public accommodation for volunteer canine search and rescue teams. (a) Any individual who is an active member of a volunteer canine search and rescue team, as defined in section 5-249, may travel on a train or on any other mode of public transportation, and may enter or visit any other place of public accommodation which caters or offers its services or facilities or goods to the general public, including, but not limited to, any public building, inn, restaurant, hotel, motel, tourist cabin, place of amusement, resort or any facility of any such public accommodation, accompanied by the dog in such team, and such individual may keep such dog with him or her at all times in any such public accommodation or facility thereof at no extra charge, provided such team is engaged in a search or rescue operation and such dog shall be in the direct custody of such individual and shall wear a harness or red or orange-colored identification. No such individual shall be charged any fee not applicable alike to all guests, provided the owner of such dog shall be liable for any damage done to the premises or facilities by such dog.

      (b) Any person who denies the rights afforded to active individual members of a volunteer canine search and rescue team under subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor, provided such individual member complies with the applicable provisions of subsection (a) of this section.

      (P.A. 04-241, S. 5.)

      See Sec. 46a-44 for like provisions re guide and assistance dogs.