Happy July 1!

Dogs and children celebrating July 1

July 1 is the often unnoticed anniversary of the Lexington leash law –but dog owners should celebrate it.  The original town Bylaw restricted dogs to leash only.  However, at a Special Town Meeting on June 4, 1968, TM members passed an amended version of the dog law, stating that  “… no dog owned or kept in this Town shall be allowed to be off the premises of its owner or keeper except in the immediate restraint and control of some person by means of a leash or by effective command …”   This amended article had to be ratified in a special town referendum election, which passed by a 2 to 1 margin (4,180 voted, 2,804 in favor and 1,265 against).  This established the leash law as we know it (Article 9-2 of the Bylaws), except for the amount of the fine on July 1, 1968.

So when the Conservation Commission tells you, as they did at a recent meeting, that they do not make decisions based on democracy and popularity, remind them that the voters, not unelected officials, democratically approved the leash law, and this law applies to the entire town without exceptions.

I thank Ephraim Weiss both for leading me to the history of the leash law and for his essential role in passing it.

Full election results here.