Indiana Code 15-20-1-4. Dog bite liability; criminal offense
(1) the owner recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally fails to take reasonable steps to restrain the dog;
Attorney's Note
Under the Indiana Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Level 5 felony | between 1 and 6 years | up to $10,000 |
| Level 6 felony | between 6 mos. and 2 1/2 years | up to $10,000 |
| Class A misdemeanor | up to 1 year | up to $5,000 |
| Class B misdemeanor | up to 180 days | up to $1,000 |
| Class C misdemeanor | up to 60 days | up to $500 |
Terms Used In Indiana Code 15-20-1-4
- Judgment: means all final orders, decrees, and determinations in an action and all orders upon which executions may issue. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
- owner: means the owner of a dog. See Indiana Code 15-20-1-2
- Property: includes personal and real property. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
(3) as the result of the owner’s failure to restrain the dog, the dog bites or attacks another person without provocation, resulting in bodily injury to the other person.
(b) The offense under subsection (a) is:
(1) a Class B misdemeanor if the person has been convicted of one (1) previous unrelated violation of this section;
(2) a Class A misdemeanor if:
(A) the person has been convicted of more than one (1) previous unrelated violation of this section; or
(B) the violation results in serious bodily injury to a person;
(3) a Level 6 felony if the owner recklessly violates this section and the violation results in the death of a person; and
(4) a Level 5 felony if the owner intentionally or knowingly violates this section and the violation results in the death of a person.
(c) This subsection does not apply to a nonaggressive dog that goes beyond the owner’s premises onto agricultural or forested land. An owner of a dog commits a Class D infraction if the owner of the dog allows the dog to stray beyond the owner’s premises, unless the dog is under the reasonable control of an individual or the dog is engaged in lawful hunting and accompanied by the owner or a custodian of the dog. However, the offense is a Class C infraction if the owner has a prior unrelated judgment for a violation of this subsection.
[Pre-2008 Recodification Citation: 15-5-12-3.]
As added by P.L.2-2008, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.158-2013, SEC.226.