Australian pensioner caught off guard by shock $1,717 fine
A pensioner has been caught off guard after receiving a $1,717 fine for walking his dog on a local beach without a lead.
Rex Tyson, 54, was walking along the sand of Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast with his 10-year-old blue heeler Rocket.
During his walk, he was handed a $121 fine by a Gold Coast City Council official, reported the Gold Coast Bulletin.
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.
The pensioner reiterated that Rocket was walking calmly next to him and was causing no disturbance to other residents.
Across the Gold Coast, there are designated off-leash areas including three beaches dedicated to dogs.
Mr Tyson believes the fine was a ‘money-grab’ and said dog walkers were being targeted.
“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 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.
“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.”
Mr Tyson was fined $1,717 but no conviction was recorded.