Rancher unhappy about being given ticket for riding horse to Taco Bell

Rick Braun from West Kansas has lived in Lucas, Texas, for 11 years. And over that time, he's been riding horses on his open ranch just east of Allen. "It's heck of a lot better than being in a car," Braun said. He finds peace in the saddle, but lately it's been more pain. He was recently cited by Allen police for 'riding animal on public street.' "It's horse country!" he said. "Everywhere you go, there's horses everywhere."

But that argument didn't register with Allen authorities after he and friends rode into that city from Lucas two weeks ago. They had stopped off at a Taco Bell. Braun said he's been going there by horse for years, often two to three nights a week. Allen police spokesman Jon Felty said officers had warned Braun repeatedly. "We've asked them, please don't do this," he said. Allen's city code, Chapter 3-18F, outlines the police point of view. It is unlawful for anyone to ride or drive an animal on a public sidewalk. It is unlawful for anyone to ride or drive an animal within any portion of the street or right-of-way of a heavily traveled street.
"You show me what roadway around here is not heavily traveled," Felty said. "They all are heavily traveled." But Braun maintained that his group was riding along a greenbelt nearly the entire way. He concedes there were a couple of streets they had to cross to make it to the restaurant, but that traffic was minimal. "At 5:30 in the afternoon? Yes. But at 10:30 at night? No!" Braun said. Police said they received complaints from residents about horse droppings, and even said Braun's darker horses are a safety issue. "These horses are not visible," Felty said. "They're riding along roadways, and they're not visible late at night."

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Braun said he never heard one complaint over years of riding into town. It took the city four days to get back to them on the citation, which lists a $266 fine. "None of them knew what the ordinance said," Braun argued. "If they leave it the way it is, it's vague, and nobody knows." The riders plan to fight the citation in court next week. Beyond that, Braun and his friends are fighting for clarity, because they have every intention to continue riding their horses where it is deemed legal.