A pensioner has been fined more than $1,700 for walking his beloved dog along his local beach without a lead.
Rex Tyson, 54, was strolling along the sand on the Gold Coast with his 10-year-old blue heeler Rocket when he was handed a $121 fine by the council, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.
Mr Tyson fought the claim, saying he had his companion under control and even had his leash in his hand, but was unsuccessful and was ordered to pay $1,596 on top of the fine for the council’s legal fees.
Rex Tyson, 54, was strolling along the sand on the Gold Coast with his 10-year-old blue heeler Rocket when he was handed a $121 fine by the council (stock image)
Mr Tyson and Rocket were walking along Mermaid Beach near Cronulla Avenue when they were stopped by a Gold Coast City Council official and handed the fine
Mr Tyson and Rocket were walking along Mermaid Beach near Cronulla Avenue when they were stopped by a Gold Coast City Council official and handed the fine.
The pensioner maintains Rocket was walking calmly alongside him and causing no disturbances to other residents.
There are designated off-leash areas across the Gold Coast, including three beaches dedicated to dogs.
Mr Tyson claimed the fine was a ‘money-grab’ and said dog walkers were being targetted.
‘I think it’s about grabbing money from people that are walking a dog on the beach,’ he said. ‘They fined everyone on the beach that day.’
The court, however, disagreed, saying Mr Tyson should have been aware he was in an on-lead area and should have had Rocket clipped up.
‘It’s not a particularly serious example of breaking the law,’ Magistrate Mark Howden said. ‘Nonetheless you should have had a leash on the dog which you were walking.’
He was fined the $1,717 but no conviction was recorded.