[QUOTE=MaddMatt;1906277]Lee:
It is my understanding that this transaction takes place at the DCO office and the person pays a $25 fine plus the licensing fee – which varies.As former liason to Public Safety and current board member (for the next couple weeks anyways), maybe I can provide a little insight from my experience and talking to the court...
The situation as I understand it is that a DCO writes a ticket for unlicensed dog. If that person pleads guilty to the violation, he pays a fine of around $20.
At the DCO office, or in court? If the individual does not show up in the DCO office, isn’t it the practice to put out three compliance notices and if the individual is still a no show a final notice then a court appearance ticket is issued – delivered by a DCO in person?If the person does not show up, it is a violation and they will be still be fined.
How can he plead innocent if he refuses to get his dog licensed – which is a state law?If he pleads innocent, he can have his day in court to fight the charges.
Isn’t it a criminal offense for an individual to not appear in court when summoned? Why can’t a bench warrant be issued as in other municipalities?Judge Colby's hands are a little tied as to the punishment that can be doled out. He is not allowed, for instance, to issue a bench warrant of arrest for no shows or repeat offenders and can not force the resident to get a dog license.
If the individual ignores three citations from the DCO, goes to court and the court cannot make that person get a dog license, why should anyone bother getting a dog licensed.
He can fine them, but does he? 92 court appearance tickets issued and only $560 in fines taken in. Are the persons appearing in court:He can fine them and that's it. Again, this is all just my personal understanding of how it works. As for other jurisdictions handing out more severe punishments, I am not aware of this.
Who are fined paying those fines in the time allotted? Is there an established date when such fines should be paid?
What happens when fine due date is blown off?
Is it mandated the individual appearing in court have his dog licensed? Why not, if the court cannot make the individual get a license? So, the individual pays the fine – or maybe not -, the dog remains unlicensed and circus comes back to town.
I don’t believe that happens. If it does, what a fruitless and wasted effort to get people in compliance.However, all is not lost as the DCO's can continue to ticket the offending pet owner. The thought here is that the owner would be better off just getting his pet licensed than paying the more expensive fines over and over.
As you were involved in public safety, I don’t have to remind you that it is imperative to have dogs licensed to ensure they have been vaccinated for rabies. Failing to perform a dog census and getting dogs licensed to ensure a rabies vaccination has been administered helps alleviate pet owners concern should they or their pets get bitten.I questioned whether there could be a "Fix-it or ticket" type situation where the ticket could be waived if the license is paid and I was told that it was up to the judge to decide but that would most likely be the case.
If the town is going to build a new dog control facility to ensure the operation meets housing standards, it should ensure policies and procedures are in place to ensure dogs are licensed and violators penalized.