Dave Piantoni, 52, has filed a complaint against the Orange County Transportation Authority after a bus driver denied him service when he did not have special identification for his service dog.

It was just before noon on Sunday when Piantoni, from Santa Ana, got out of church and tried to board bus route 83 at Main and 9th streets.

“When I got on, I swiped my card … the bus driver saw my service animal and he said ‘get off the bus’ because I didn’t have a special ID for the dog,” said Piantoni, who did not want to disclose his disability.

Piantoni said he showed the coach operator a copy of the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements from the Department of Justice to validate his argument that he did not need a “special ID card.” He said he carries the copy at all times, just in case.

The ADA website states: “Although a number of states have programs to certify service animals, you may not insist on proof of state certification before permitting the service animal to accompany the person with a disability.”

According to the website, any service animal that displays vicious behavior toward other guests or customers may be excluded. And, if it’s uncertain that an animal is a service animal, it’s allowed to ask the person if it is a service animal required because of a disability.

In Piantoni’s case, his dog was wearing a vest and a patch labeled ‘service dog’ and was not being threatening, he said.

OCTA spokesman Joel Zlotnik said the transportation agency does follow ADA guidelines and added that the complaint is under investigation.

“He (Piantoni) is correct, a person with a service animal is not required to have identification,” Zlotnik said. “We’re looking into it and if the coach operator is found to have violated ADA standards, disciplinary action will be taken.”

But, Piantoni said: “I don’t want him to lose his job. I just want better training for the drivers.”

Piantoni said it angered him when the bus driver, using a condescending tone, told him he couldn’t get on. He waited 15 minutes for the next bus.

“I could have made more of a scene, but I got off,” he said.

“All I would like is an apology. I would like them to train the bus drivers in the federal regulations and that they go through a sensitivity course in handling disabled or elderly people,” Piantoni added.

Zlotnik said bus drivers get a full eight-hour day of ADA training which includes everything related to the Disabilities Act and how it relates to bus operations and service animals.

“We know that our bus service is very vital in particular to members of the community who have disabilities,” Zlotnik said. “We really take complaints with ADA seriously and work hard to train our employees on the requirements.”

Contact the writer: amolina@ocregister.com or 714-704-3795