$1,000 leash law fines are history
Baltimore's City Council, as expected, voted tonight to lower the $1,000 fines for leash law violators.
The council voted to change the fine for getting caught with an off-leash dog to a staggered penalty system. First offenders would pay $200, and those caught the second and third times would pay $400 and then $600.
Officials also voted to work on establishing off-leash hours in some parks and to lower the fine for those who fail to scoop up their dog's excrement from $1,000 per offense to $200.
The leash-law issue came to a head in March, when animal control officers began enforcing changes made to the law in 2008 as part of a broad measure boosting fines for various animal control violations.
Dog owners rallied against the fines, collecting more than 1,600 signatures on a petition. According to the city, 35 people have been hit with $1,000 fines as of May 8.
Councilman James Kraft said he would try to get Mayor Sheila Dixon to sign the legislation as soon as Tuesday to make it official.
Read more on people's views of the leash law here.
More Unleashed leash law coverage here.
Judith Kunst of Remington shakes hands with her dog Mollie Madison McKinley in Wyman Park. In the background is Tweefie Millspaugh of Charles Village, with Freckles on the left and her dog Riley. They and other dog owners met at the park after last week's City Council hearing on the leash law. Sun photo by Kim Hairston.
Comments
My dog can run off leash with his friends again!!!! yes yes yes. I'm sure the dave is crying in his metamucil today. see ya at latrobe buddy
Posted by: Andy | May 19, 2009 1:20 PM
So, you admit your intention to flout the law? Charming.
Posted by: Scrapin' poo off my shoe | May 19, 2009 1:52 PM
Dear Poo Shoe - Do you mean to tell me that you have NEVER broken the law in your life? You have never gone over the speed limit, rolled through a stop sign, or illegally turned on red? Because those are all against the law, yet people do them constantly. If you have never broken the law, my hat is off to you. Howevever, with another body found in the Inner Harbor, increased vandalism and break-ins in Patterson Park, and prostitution in Charles Village, don't you think the residents of this city have a few more important things to worry about than complaining about poo on your shoe? Wake up - that is the least of your problems if you live in Baltimore city.
Posted by: Anonymous | May 19, 2009 3:12 PM
Exactly!!!! well said, and if the city will come forward with special dog hours in parks i will follow them to a T. Otherwise, I consider having my dog off lease akin to parking in front of a hydrant or not putting my garbage out in a trash can. Theres more important things to worry about here, like the shady kids i see busting bottles in latrobe park.
Posted by: Andy | May 19, 2009 4:07 PM
Life is made up of small problems. Large ones intrude, but mainly it's the little crap that wears people down, like being annoyed by some clown who lets his overenthusiastic dog run free in public.
And my lawlessness is on my own conscience. See to your own.
Posted by: Poo Redux | May 19, 2009 8:43 PM
Heres a perfect real world example, i was letting my dog run blissfully free at latrobe park with 5 of his buddies this AM, when I saw graffiti all over the pavilion, which is more detrimental to quality of life? My dog who doesn't poo without me picking it up or tagging all over a wall in a public park? which scofflaw should the city put more resources to stopping. hmmmmm i wonder.
Posted by: Andy | May 20, 2009 9:27 AM
also, theres a locust point dog park happy hour tonight at little havana from 6-9 proceeds benefit the dog park currently under construction in latrobe.
Thanks for the info -- good to know! -- Jill
Posted by: Andy | May 20, 2009 9:29 AM
Poo Redux / Shoe Poo - Hilarious! You say that your lawlessness is on your own conscience and for people to "see to their own", yet you apparently have PLENTY to say about our 'lawlessness'. See to YOUR own, Mr. Pot Kettle Black.
If you care enough to come on a blog about dogs and post multiple comments whining about poo, then it leads me to believe you care a little bit about the overall well-being of our fair city. On the rare occassion that I see an errant turd on my walks, I use one of the extra baggies I have with me and pick it up. Instead of whining about it on here, do something about it. I guess complaining online is much easier - the lazy way out.
Posted by: Anonymous | May 20, 2009 9:44 AM
In general, the civic minded dog owners who were against this huge fine make their neighborhoods safer and cleaner overall. Their presence deters crime and their investment in their community pays off for non-dog owners. The owners who do leave dog poop around tend to be in a different category and tend not to use dog parks, leash or no leash.
Posted by: Lesley | May 20, 2009 6:23 PM
Lesley - very well said.
Posted by: Leigh | May 21, 2009 8:56 AM