Stock Law for Navarro County on the November Ballot.
In November, Navarro County voters will decide whether livestock shall be contained on their owner’s property or allowed to roam unattended on County roads and the private property of others.
Voting sounds straight forward, but it requires two separate ballot questions causing considerable confusion.
(1). Proposition 1 pertains only to cattle.
The ballot states: “Adoption of the Stock Law.”
Voting “FOR (A FAVOR)” means cattle must be contained on their owner’s property.
Voting “AGAINST (EN CONTRA)” means cattle can roam unattended on roads and the private property of others.
(2). Proposition 2 pertains to livestock other than cattle.
The ballot states: “Letting horses, mules, jacks, jennets, donkeys, hogs, sheep, and goats run at large in Navarro County.”
Voting “AGAINST (EN CONTRA)” means such livestock must be contained on their owner’s property.
Voting “FOR (A FAVOR)” means such livestock can roam unattended on roads and the private property of others.
In summary, to enact a Stock Law, vote FOR PROPOSITION 1 and AGAINST PROPOSITION 2.
Of course, enacting stock laws does not restrict legitimate herding of cattle or other livestock on roads for purposes of moving them from pasture to pasture or horseback riding on any road.
Navarro County is one of the few counties (23 identified out of 254) left in Texas that has not enacted a Stock Law; and in my view, a Stock Law is badly needed for the following reasons.
Statutes allowing livestock to roam at large are archaic dating back to the 1840’s when there was no high speed auto traffic, barbed wire didn’t exist, and Navarro County was sparsely populated. 170 years later, Navarro County has become largely urbanized and 4000 acre plus tracts of land are no longer the norm. Many individuals own homes in Navarro County to enjoy county living and commute to work in the Metroplex.
Most domestic livestock are large animals (some in excess of 1000 lbs.) and can be a serious threat to the traveling public. Strange as it may sound, without a stock law, livestock can legally graze on our Farm to Market and County Roads sometimes with deadly effects when encountered by unsuspecting motorists. I don’t think anyone would think unattended livestock should be intermingled with automotive traffic on our roads.
When roaming livestock wonder onto the property of others they destroy acres of crops, well-manicured yards, and gardens. It is not unheard of for a family pet or person to be kicked or seriously injured when encountering them. Cars parked in yards can be damaged by livestock rubbing up against them. The problem is worsened by the current trend of absentee investors buying farmland for grazing purposes without adequate fencing or anyone on site to monitor their livestock.
Without a stock law, Navarro County residents having the unfortunate experience of colliding with livestock through no fault of their own soon find out they’re stuck with the damages. Private landowners have little recourse against livestock wondering onto their fields or yards. In short, without a Stock Law, Texas Courts have consistently ruled there is no such thing as a trespassing animal even if it’s on other’s private property.
For me, a sense of fairness dictates that unsuspecting motorists or other landowners should not be forced to burden the cost of roaming livestock; and in fact, the vast majority of counties in Texas have enacted stock laws for that very reason. It’s time for Navarro County to the same.
James Mayes
Navarro County Landowner