Applicability of article.

(a) This article shall apply regardless whether the police animal or search and rescue animal is in the actual performance of assisting a handler in his or her duties or is off duty.

(b) If the police animal or search and rescue animal is in a containment area not in the immediate presence of the handler, this article only applies to an offender who knows or should know at the time of the violation that the animal that is the subject of the violation is a police animal or search and rescue animal.

(Act 2013-421, p. 1677, §3.)