Probationary Owners

   21. Classification of probationary owners---(1) Where any person is
 convicted of any offence (not being an infringement offence) against
 this Act or any offence against section 3 or section 4 of the Animals
 Protection Act 1960 in respect of a dog or any offence against section
 26ZZP of the Conservation Act 1987 or section 56I of the National Parks
 Act 1980, the territorial authority may classify that person as a
 probationary owner.

   (2) Where any person commits 3 or more infringement offences within a
 continuous period of 24 months, the territorial authority may classify
 that person as a probationary owner.

   (3) For the purposes of subsection (2) of this section, a person shall
 be deemed to have committed an infringement offence if---
   (a) That person has been ordered to pay a fine and costs under section
         78A (1) of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957, or is deemed to
         have been so ordered under section 21 (5) of that Act, in
         respect of that offence; or
   (b) The infringement fee specified on an infringement notice in
         respect of that offence and issued to that person under section
         66 of this Act has been paid.

   (4) Where any person is classified as a probationary owner under
 subsection (1) of this section, the territorial authority shall as soon
 as practicable give written notice in the prescribed form to that person
 of that decision.