New England Online > Geography > Administrative Divisions > Counties > County Rangers
County Rangers
In New England, County Rangers (formally titled The Honourable Earl of [Name of County]'s Rangers, but usually known as simply Rangers) are the officers charged with the enforcement of county by-laws and regulations. All thirteen counties maintain a detachment of rangers, with required tasks consisting of anything from collecting stray pets, manning toll booths or enforcing building regulations. Rangers can dispense fines for summary offences committed in their presence, such as littering, graffiti or unleashed pets.
Unlike some jurisdictions, rangers have no authority over parking laws, with such responisbility resting with the Royal New England Constubulary.
Objectives
The objectives of the County Rangers are:
- To ensure a clean, safe and healthy living environment;
- To protect, preserve and enhance the natural and built environments of New England;
- To respond to requests and complaints in areas relevant to our function;
- To enforce various by-laws, regulations and policies; and
- To promote public awareness concerning the natural environment.
Powers
Pollution - Rangers respond to reports of air and water pollution. We investigate pollution events and initiate clean-up actions. We also locate sites that have the potential to pollute and initiate rehabilitiation prior to any pollution occurring. Rangers also respond to events of air pollution, including smoke and dust, back yard fires and illegal burning. Rangers can enforce fines of up C100,000 for pollution.
Litter and Rubbish - Rangers are expected to be always vigilant for litterers and rubbish dumpers as well as sites that are being affected by this kind of activity. This includes private land that is poorly maintained or in an unhealthy state. Rangers can enforce fines of up C1,000 for littering.
Feral Animals - Rangers are responsiblefor eradicating feral animals from public land such as foxes, cats, rabbits, starlings and pigeons.
Noise - Rangers handle all noise issues that are animal related. They also deal with other noise matters such as loud music and machinery in the first instance.
Companion Animals - Rangers deal with all matters of urban animal management such as cat and dog control, impounding of strays, dog attacks, andinjured or sick animals at large. Rangers also run the local animal pound with assistance from the RSPCA and volunteers.
Stock Control - Rangers respond to all reports of stock at large in public places. Rangers also attend truckincidents involving stock and monitor the condition of fences in our area to prevent stock escaping.
Vandalism - Rangers respond to reports of vandalistic behaviour and work with Police and local security firms to reduce incidents of vandalism to county property.
Abandoned Articles - People discard or lose property and it is our function to organise the removal or impounding.Items may include cars, boats, beer kegs, signs -the list is endless.
Toy Vehicles - Rangers regulate the use of skate boards, roller blades and the use of other recreational vehicles in public places.
Illegal Traders - Street stalls, buskers, fruit and vegetable stands and the like all need approval from the county council. It is the job of Rangers to see this is complied with as well as the approval conditions.
Community Education - To help gain compliance with the rules, Rangers take a proactive approach to environmental rehabilitain and anti-littering campaigns.
Legal Action - Being in an enforcement role, Rangers are authorised to commence legal action against offenders and to issue on-the-spot fines.On-the-spot finesare issued on behalf of the Royal New England Constabluary and enforced by the Police and the Office of Debt Recovery. Rangers also issue written cautions andaim to avoid legal action where possible.
