Any person who hinders a person with disabilities from enjoying the rights provided in this chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine which shall not exceed one hundred dollars ($100), or imprisonment for a maximum term of thirty (30) days, or both penalties, at the discretion of the court. For each subsequent violation, said person shall be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200), or imprisonment for a maximum term of sixty (60) days, or both penalties, at the discretion of the court.
Any person who uses force or violence in order to prevent a person with disabilities accompanied by his/her animal helper from entering a public place or a means of public transportation, and injures the person with disabilities, shall be guilty of felony and shall be punished by imprisonment for a fixed term of three (3) years.
If there are aggravating circumstances, the fixed penalty established herein may be increased to a maximum of five (5) years; if there are extenuating circumstances, it may be reduced to a maximum of two (2) years. In addition thereto, the court may impose the penalty of restitution, as established in section 49A of the Penal Code.
History —May 29, 1970, No. 51, p. 117, § 3; May 17, 1979, No. 46, p. 103; Dec. 21, 1994, No. 141, § 1.