Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §3907, sub-§12-D, as amended by PL 2001, c. 399, §4, is further amended to read:

12-D. Dangerous dog. "Dangerous dog" means a dog that bites an individual who is not trespassing on the dog owner's or keeper's premises at the time of the bite or a dog that causes a reasonable and prudent person who is not on the dog owner's or keeper's premises and is acting in a reasonable and nonaggressive manner to fear imminent bodily injury by assaulting or threatening to assault that individual or individual's domestic animal. The term includes any definition adopted by a municipality pursuant to section 3954. "Dangerous dog" does not include a dog certified by the State and used for law enforcement use.

For the purposes of this definition, "dog owner's or keeper's premises" means the residence or residences, including buildings and land and motor vehicles, belonging to the owner or keeper of the dog.

Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §3954 is enacted to read:

§3954.__Local regulation

A municipality may adopt or retain ordinances, laws or regulations dealing with dangerous dogs that are more stringent than the provisions of this chapter.

SUMMARY

This bill allows a municipality to adopt ordinances dealing with dangerous dogs that are more stringent than those provided in the statutes.