Stopping a snowmobile without injury

[DarkBlack]

What did the snowmobilers do that was so awful?

 

[lockhaven]

What did the snowmobilers do that was so awful?

my own experience? 1 no sleep with the lights flashing into the windows all night
2 plowed driveway filled across by breaking the snow down back into the driveway
3 vent pipes broken from driving over my sand mound
4 deer harassed from winter feeding
5 small trees destroyed
6 cut low branches on my white pine hedge trees
enough?

 

[tkappeler]

Based on what other members have said I will not be doing anything other than what is 100% legal.

Legal and smart are two different things. Legal does not mean that a civil lawsuit could not be entered against you for damages/injury/liability. I would at least have a separate 1MM umbrella policy above normal homeowners.

Note: I have no stake. NJ is not snowmobile capital but we are knee deep in litigation attorneys.

 

[MossRoad]

Yes i agree it is confusing metro vs non metro. I was asking if it was possible to do or had anybody tried it. Based on what other members have said I will not be doing anything other than what is 100% legal. I am meeting with the sheriff or his designee in my area personally in the next day or two as soon as he is available (this is the guy who deals with nothing but situations like this). I have tried the snowmobile clubs last year, it fell on deaf ears.

You know.... a lot of folks can relate to your experience with snowmobilers on their land. And a lot of folks can relate to wanting to do something about it. However, I think its the fact that you want to stop them and detain them and the methods that you mention that has some folks trying to tell you that what you are even thinking about, even if you are told its legal, could seriously injure someone AND put you in real deep legal or civil hot water. That's all.

 

[MNBobcat]

You know.... a lot of folks can relate to your experience with snowmobilers on their land. And a lot of folks can relate to wanting to do something about it. However, I think its the fact that you want to stop them and detain them and the methods that you mention that has some folks trying to tell you that what you are even thinking about, even if you are told its legal, could seriously injure someone AND put you in real deep legal or civil hot water. That's all.

Moss,

You got that right. If he had posted a question about how to deal with snowmobilers on his property, rather than a "not seeking to decapitate them, just destroy their machines" sort of an approach, I wouldn't have been on his case. Instead, I'd have tried to offer some helpful suggestions. But this whole notion of setting a trap for someone, which could end up in someone getting really hurt, set me off.

The way to resolve the problem is to post the property. If that doesn't work, then purchase 100 foot rolls of orange snow fence and then cut each roll to a width of 12 inches. So one 100 foot roll produces 300 linear feet of fencing. Then run that along the perimeter of the area.

All the snowmobilers need is some indication they shouldn't be on the property. Signs, fence, whatever...

Snowmobilers don't want to lose their riding privileges. They'll respect signs and such. Mainly they just need an indication they're not welcome on the property.

 

[MossRoad]

It looks like the snowmobilers should not be there in the first place. The law posted above says they need written permission to be there, which they don't have. They need to know where their boundaries end, not where the O.P.'s property starts. I'm 100% for the O.P. in that they should not be there and he shouldn't have to do anything to keep them off of there. The snowmobilers are 100% wrong if that's the law. With that said, it doesn't give the O.P. the O.K. to booby trap his property, even if his intention is not to hurt anyone, just stop them. If it were me, I'd post some signs. I was having problems with dirt bikers on our property. They used saws and cut about a mile of trails on my 20 acres. I posted no trespassing signs for a month. Then I put up a bunch of orange caution tape and cut long 8-10" trees and made long X's wrapped in caution tape across the trails at several entrances they had carved. I even put up warning flags a hundred feet down the trail. Guess what? They tore the X's out and hauled them down the abandoned rail line and dumped them and continued to ride. I ended up following the tire and mud tracks back to their home and called the police. That took care of it. Haven't had problems for 15 years.

 

[480volts]

Moss you are right, I have changed my ideas as to what to do, Remember I have not done anything, I was just asking for advice from everyone (which I have taken as sound advice) Other than blocking trails on my land with deadfall and signs, that is the extent of my involvement.
On the other hand I have met with the Sheriff for over a hour last night and they have different ideas as to what to do. The problem is serious enough in anoka county that there was a added 2 patrol unit that pretty much does nothing but investigate snowmobile complaints Full Time during the winter

They are stepping up random patrols on the river starting immediately. There are enough complaints that the river could have some serious restrictions. His words not mine.

You guys seem like a good bunch of people. Please when someone asks for advice, a personal attack most likely not the best course of action. You can see from my post count # I don't post a lot, I do read a lot of the posts
Far as I am concerned my problem will be solved
Just saying i'am done

 

[MNBobcat]

It looks like the snowmobilers should not be there in the first place. The law posted above says they need written permission to be there, which they don't have. They need to know where their boundaries end, not where the O.P.'s property starts. I'm 100% for the O.P. in that they should not be there and he shouldn't have to do anything to keep them off of there. The snowmobilers are 100% wrong if that's the law. With that said, it doesn't give the O.P. the O.K. to booby trap his property, even if his intention is not to hurt anyone, just stop them. If it were me, I'd post some signs. I was having problems with dirt bikers on our property. They used saws and cut about a mile of trails on my 20 acres. I posted no trespassing signs for a month. Then I put up a bunch of orange caution tape and cut long 8-10" trees and made long X's wrapped in caution tape across the trails at several entrances they had carved. I even put up warning flags a hundred feet down the trail. Guess what? They tore the X's out and hauled them down the abandoned rail line and dumped them and continued to ride. I ended up following the tire and mud tracks back to their home and called the police. That took care of it. Haven't had problems for 15 years.

I agree that the snowmobilers should know not to be there. But they are. And the sheriff isn't going to be there 24x7 to try and catch people on snowmobiles. As you suggested, the only logical option is to post the property or fence it.

 

[not2old]

I'd suggest a sign indicating that you charge $100.00 per day for riding on your property. If they don't pay it, call the police and have them charged with theft of services.

 

[MossRoad]

I agree that the snowmobilers should know not to be there. But they are. And the sheriff isn't going to be there 24x7 to try and catch people on snowmobiles. As you suggested, the only logical option is to post the property or fence it.

And STIFF fines for the snowmobilers if not following the law. That's the only real teeth that will bite them.