My dogs are rarely leashed on walks through the neighborhood. If I am walking near busy roads then I will throw a leash around their necks. My dogs are curb trained, which means that they are trained not to step off the curb until I tell them it's okay. They also have a command for crossing roads that I give them if it's all clear, which is go get up and means that they are to run across the street and jump up onto the sidewalk and wait for me to finish crossing. We also have a go home command that I can give from half way down the block and sends them tearing into the yard. Clipse actually runs up the steps to the door and waits there.

If another dog or person is coming I call my dogs to me and put them in sit stays out of the way until that dog and/or person passes. I always carry my leashes with me in case I need to swat at an off leash dog that won't leave us alone. Personally I'd rather have my dogs meet strange ones off leash, I think it's a bit safer.

I agree with what ParNone wrote. If I was caught and fined, then I would pay with no complaints.

Also, one final thing is that I don't take my dogs on regular walks around the neighborhood. I instead walk them straight to an open field and let them run.