Are some dog owners cheating the service dog system?

Falsely claiming your dog is a service dog is against the law and punishable with fines and sometimes confiscating the animal. Service dogs are highly trained animals for people with disabilities covered under the American's with Disabilities act. Not just anyone can get a service dog, plus most service dogs have identifying collars, vests, tags, or harnesses and the owner has paperwork or identification. Many people confuse service dogs with therapy dogs or emotional support animals. Therapy and Emotional support animals are only covered by the Fair Housing Act, meaning no landlord can refuse to rent a home or apartment because of the animal. Almost anyone can get their pet "certified" as an emotional or therapy dog. Almost any doctor can write a letter stating your dog, or any pet really, is emotional support for you or is theraputic. It is unfortunate that people abuse the service animal label while there are disabled people out there that could highly benefit from a service dog and have a higher quality of life.
I recently witnessed a young girl claiming her dog was a "service" dog in order to check into a hotel for spring break. Fortunately she did not have the proper paperwork and they turned her away where she was later cited by the police for having a dog on the beach. The police educated her in the matter and she claimed she felt bad and would never do it again.