Comments on: The Scoop On Poop: Fines Escalate To $1,000 Max

By: j

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:05:05 +0000

I think it’s a little absurd. I’m 99.9% compliant. I use the “bags on board” roll of 20 so that I have multiple bags available to me at all times. However, in the event that my dog may have an unexpected triple whammy and the roll runs out, I have to either find another dog walker nearby and ask for a spare bag or go into a store and ask for a plastic bag. If I were caught “walking away” and couldn’t prove my intent to come back, I would reluctantly accept a $50 or $100 fine. But $1000 does not fit the crime.

By: chicagokath314

chicagokath314 — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:46:05 +0000

Go to this site and submit a complaint about a specific street. I think they send extra officers out to catch non-compliant dog walkers in the act. It worked really well when I complained about a block of West 169th St in Manhattan. I even noticed an improvement in surrounding streets in the neighborhood.

http://www.nyc.gov/apps/311/allServices.htm?requestType=listService&filterServ=Complaint&serviceName=Dog+or+Animal+Waste+Complaint&intentId=3C132E8E-8138-11DE-8E9F-96DAE110FEB8

By: Eddyenergizer

Eddyenergizer — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 14:58:15 +0000

The reason the city raised the fine to $1,000 is because there is no realistic way to enforce the law. A police officer must witness the violation first hand, given that there are few if any foot patrols and most cops cruse around in cars or the “cop-in-a-box” scooters, it is highly unlikely they would ever witness a actual “rogue deposit”. Fear of a heavy fine is the only way to get irresponsible dog escorts to follow the law.

The bags of pooh scattered around the trash cans is most likely from “can redeemers” that throw the trash on the ground in search of their prize.

By: Ernie

Ernie — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 17:25:35 +0000

One error (of many) that legislators and government officials make is that high fines stop behavior whether its owners not cleaning up their dog’s poop, horn blowing or bike riders going the wrong way on a one-way street through red lights. It doesn’t and often those actually fined feel like victims, as the size of fines often have no relationship to the “offense.” Perhaps the City should try reasonable fines with aggressive enforcement. If, for example, a driver actually believed they would be fined $25 for blowing their horn in front of a police office 2 seconds after a red light turned green, they wouldn’t.

By: malanga es malanga

malanga es malanga — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 07:45:52 +0000

Without a hint of enforcement, the fine could be $100,000, and it would still fail to, um, curb the behavior.

Now, if we can only get the dog owners who go to Cadman Plaza for leash-free hours to keep their dogs off of the artificial turf surface, and to not leave deposits there.

By: Jorale-man

Jorale-man — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 01:02:29 +0000

Two thoughts:
Enforcement is the real question here. There are also signs in our neighborhood that say $300 fine for horn honking. I’d love to see those enforced but I realize they never have been and never will be.

Also, it would also be nice to see the focus on dog poop extended to trash in general. I’ve said this here before. The promenade in the summertime often becomes a giant pigpen, with all kinds of litter. As we all wish to make the neighborhood a great place to live, that should be a continuing focus.

By: km

km — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 22:59:40 +0000

A blind person recently on the corner of Joralemon and Henry carefully picked up her seeing eye dog poop, but when she went to put it in the trash she had to ask me where the trash can was – because someone had moved them, yet again.

By: GHB

GHB — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 21:21:36 +0000

@Joe, those loads you see are from a seeing eye dog. At least the owner bags it.

By: Mr. Crusty

Mr. Crusty — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:53:33 +0000

“I have never seen the pooper scooper law enforced.”

Evidence collection seems be the drawback.

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 17:45:25 +0000

I’m all for this if it can be enforced and the green side of me would love for it to be recycled in some way to benefit the neighborhood.

Pierrepont place across the street from the playground has a lot of poop in baggies (I guess this is a tad better than being left on the sidewalk) and they are literally a few feet away from a garbage can. I don’t get why you go through the trouble of bagging it up and then not throwing it away.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:35:37 +0000

I have never seen the pooper scooper law enforced.

@ Homer – your registration expired and you got a ticket?

By: WillowNabe

WillowNabe — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:32:04 +0000

I have lived here for six years and have never once seen anyone who enforced the pooper scooper laws. What does it matter how much the fine goes up to if it is not enforced?

By: Wiley E.

Wiley E. — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:44:33 +0000

Why aren’t poop fines collected?

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:36:40 +0000

I think a responsible dog owner would clean up after their dog. I clean up behind my dog because dog feces carry GERMS!!! But a better use for the poop can be found, I am all for it!!!

By: Homer Fink

Homer Fink — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:29:35 +0000

Yes I really enjoyed the two tickets I got for the same “violation” – my “expired” registration. The NEW registration ON THE WINDSHIELD.

By: Heightsman

Heightsman — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:04:10 +0000

Now just empower the traffic cops to enforce it. They are a vigilant bunch when it comes to cars! I love it!

By: David

David — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 14:54:55 +0000

If you clean up the poop, you don’t pay the fine…