As promised, the Ocean Ridge Town Commission passed an ordinance raising the fine for violating the town’s ban on dogs on the beach from $25 to $100.

A second offense rose from $50 to $200 and a third offense rose from $100 to $500.

“The $100 fine will at least hopefully dissuade someone from not respecting our town, and that’s the bottom line. It’s the respect factor,” Mayor Geoff Pugh said at the April 7 commission meeting.

Commissioner David Hutchins said that he had a run-in with a County Pocket resident insistent on taking his dog on the beach. When Hutchins said it was against the law, he said the man “got very close to violence. He was really upset. I mean, yelling at me in my face.”

The commission raised the fines after residents complained that dog owners didn’t mind taking the risk for $25. Police patrols looking for violators increased in March. There were 22 citations issued over five weeks before the fines were increased.

Police Chief Scott McClure at the April 14 special meeting of the commission said the first $100 citation was written that morning.

— John Pacenti

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