How to defend your right against those who cut you off?
Unfortunately, guide dog users still encounter trouble exercising their right of access to the environment. There are still people who do not know that this right is guaranteed by law or that, knowing it, they are willing to prevent their free exercise because of prejudice against dogs or because they consider their establishment, vehicle or business to be their fiefdom and they can decide which laws apply and which do not. Puppy educators, in those communities where they are granted the right of access, encounter even more problems than users, due to a greater ignorance about their right and the in that they are visually impaired.
In many cases, the initial objections or reluctance of an owner or manager are resolved by showing the law that recognizes the right of access, as it is a problem of ignorance of the rule. Therefore, from the Foundation we advise our users and puppy educators to carry with them a copy of the law of the Autonomous Community, in order to be able to teach it in case of encountering access problems. It is also desirable, if the conflict occurs in establishments open to the public, to try to resolve it by dealing directly with the person responsible or in charge of the premises when the person who raises the access problem is an employee or vigilante.
If the unjustified refusal to allow access with the guide dog is maintained, it is recommended to request a complaint sheet, whether they are establishments, transport or services that are obliged to provide it to their customers or users. In the event that it is not provided or is impossible to complete, the user or educator is advised to require the assistance of the local police. On many occasions the agents will convince the owner or manager that he must allow access. In the event that it persists in its refusal, the police report that records the incident will serve as qualified evidence for the sanctioning file that the user can initiate in order for the violation to be punished.
Conduct that violates the right of access to the environment constitute administrative offences punishable by fines by the corresponding autonomous law. In order to ensure that this fine is imposed on the person responsible for the infringement, the guide dog user must initiate a sanctioning file before the competent authority (Autonomous Community or municipality, as established by applicable law). It is appropriate to follow the appropriate procedure, since otherwise the claim may prove fruitless or lead to unnecessary judicial proceedings.