Australian pensioner caught off guard by shock $1,717 fine
<p>A pensioner has been caught off guard after receiving a $1,717 fine for walking his dog on a local beach without a lead.</p>
<p>Rex Tyson, 54, was walking along the sand of Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast with his 10-year-old blue heeler Rocket.</p>
<p>During his walk, he was handed a $121 fine by a Gold Coast City Council official, reported the <a href="http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/crime-court/pensioner-loses-battle-to-walk-his-blue-heeler-off-lead-on-mermaid-beach/news-story/6cd2739e97d088a3fe41a75cc0dcb70f" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Gold Coast Bulletin</strong></em></span></a>.</p>
<p>Mr Tyson fought the claim, arguing that his dog was under control and he was holding a leash in his hand, but was unsuccessful and was ordered to pay $1,596 on top of the original fine for the council’s legal fees.</p>
<p>The pensioner reiterated that Rocket was walking calmly next to him and was causing no disturbance to other residents.</p>
<p>Across the Gold Coast, there are designated off-leash areas including three beaches dedicated to dogs.</p>
<p>Mr Tyson believes the fine was a ‘money-grab’ and said dog walkers were being targeted.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>The court disagreed with Mr Tyson and said he should have been aware he was walking in an on-lead area and his dog should’ve been on a leash.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>Mr Tyson was fined $1,717 but no conviction was recorded.</p>
