Fines for Delinquent Dog Licenses Raised

The cost of ignoring dog license fees in Los Angeles has gone up sharply under a policy adopted by the city Department of Animal Regulation.

Previously, people who did not pay on time were charged a late fee and could pay up to $28 for the annual license. As of April 1, however, two special officers have been in the field issuing citations to people who fail to purchase a license after a second notice has been sent.

Those citations, said Robert I. Rush, general manager of the department, “require a court appearance and can cost the scofflaw dog owner as much as $65.50 in fines and assessments.”

And taking time off from work to make a court appearance can be expensive in itself, Rush noted.