My husband has been stopped by 3 Community Police Officers whilst walking our dogs on the street and told that it is now illegal and they must be put on a lead.  They said if they caught him again they would issue him with a penalty.  Is this correct? I'm not bothered about personal opinions regarding walking dogs off the lead as there is already a thread on that, just if it is in fact true.
Many thanks

Yes, it's been illegal for years. The Road Traffic Act 1988 states:
"    27.--(1) A person who causes or permits a dog to be on a designated road without the dog being held on a lead is guilty of an offence.

    (2) In this section "designated road" means a length of road specified by an order in that behalf of the local authority in whose area the length of road is situated."

Yes, all dogs when on a public highway must be on a lead as per the Road Traffic Act 1988. The only exception is working dogs in the execution of their work, ie sheep dogs, hounds, police dogs.

It is also an offence to have a dog on a road without a collar with the name and address on it (Control of Dogs Order 1992)

Ah you beat me to it Jeangenie while I was checking my acts!

Jill

Since 1988!  That's cleared that up then.
Thanks all,

After not believing the Police three times I hope he will finally take it from you :)
Actually, although this law was enacted in 1988 I think it may have been covered by another before that.

Certainly I was aware of there being such a law or at least bylaws since I was a child in the 1970's? 

Sorry but it is one of my pet hates people walking their dogs near a road without a lead.  No matter how well trained a momentary lapse in concentration can not only cause the death of a dog, but that of a car driver, passenger or pedestrian.

Very irresponsible.

> Very irresponsible

The OP appears to live in central London

Daisy

yep it is as people have already explained. Were something to spook the dog and it ran into the road not only could your dog die but it could kill the drivers and passangers in the cars who try to avoid hitting the dog... why would any person ever want to take such a risk.

Don't worry, there won't be a second time!  He has only be stopped today once but by a group of three community officers It's just we have walked them leadless for 9 and 8 years respectively and never been stopped.  Just came as a bit of a surprise after all this time. 

If it was where I live he would also face a £200 fine.  there are lots of notices on lamp posts saying £200 for off lead and up to £500 for fouling.

The fine isn't very much really but when you consider the hundreds of thousands you might be sued for if your dog causes the death of a motorist you would need to ensure you had good public liability included in your insurance.  Of course that is just money, I could not live with myself if my dog was killed or injured let alone another human being.  It just seems so unnecessary anyway, why do you do it?

Good point! To be honest, I have no idea, just something we have always done.  I can see your points so in addition to those (plus the fact it is actually illegal ) it will be lead walks from now on.  I must say though, more people than not walk their dogs leadless around our way, it just seems to be the norm.  These are my first dogs and although I have had one for 9 years I can't believe I'm still learning.  Anyway, messages received and understood and you may now consider me a lead walking dog owner

Take heart - there are worse folks than you :D Those who walk their dogs on the roads on extendable leads and think everything is hunky dorey for example ;)

From someone who's husband recently hit an off-lead dog that ran out on the road in front of him (a dog that according to the owner has done the same walk for years no problem) thank you for becoming a lead walker Maudilly. It cost us over £600 and could have cost him his life.

It depends which area of the country you are in. Contact Holly Lee at the Kennel Club to see which enforcements are in your area. local councils can now impose dog enforcement orders within their jurastiction and Holly Lee will have a list of these.

The road Traffic Act is national law, the fines etc are a matter of local council policy.

Sorry I only skimmed the ops posting, I thought the subject was about off lead in public places. Will teach me to read fully in future :rolleyes: I was reffering to councils and the policies they set re: off lead in public places, number of dogs can be walked etc.

By public places I mean parks, forests etc

As someone who has always walked her dogs on lead while out on the road and gets very annoyed with people who have small dogs on extending leads and has had to avoid dogs on two occasions when the dogs have run out into the road in front of my car whilst on their extending leads, I must add that having seen this post yesterday, I was driving today and saw the local retired ex policeman taking his Border Collie for its usual jaunt without any lead attached. Funnily enough I bet he doesn't get pulled up!!!