Trespassing signs, etiquette, good & bad neighbors

[CobyRupert]

Perspective is a funny thing. Did your neighbor show up at 6:00am or at 10:00am? If he was there at 6am then yah he痴 probably not reading social cues. If it was 10am then maybe you are being a little weird. Its not like its the jehova six pack showing up trying to convert you or the tar and chip driveway pavers scammer not reading signs.

If you dont want to be neighbourly then answer the door naked carrying a gun and tell him FU. Put a gate at the end of your driveway and keep it closed and locked at all times. Eventually the rumours float around and the neighbourhood recognizes where all the wackos are and avoid them.

Personally Id rather have good neighbors around instead of the Ted Kaczynskis.

:thumbsup:

Yep, some people should be locked away from the rest of society.
Win-win.

 

[MossRoad]

Your honor, I have no trespassing signs at my gate. My gate was open. The neighbor drove up and knocked on my door. I want him charged with trespassing....

That's not reasonable thinking.

Keep your gate closed and locked, then you'd have something to complain about.

On a side note, though, it's a really good idea to know your neighbors and how to contact each other in an emergency.

If you get a reputation in your neighborhood as that crabby guy behind the gate, guess who's not going to make an attempt to tell you your garage is on fire in the middle of the night? Or tell you they saw a guy climbing your gate? All of your neighbors.

It doesn't mean you have to socialize with them. We have about 8 or 9 neighbors. We all know each other, and know how to contact each other if needed. We watch each other's property, and call if we see something suspicious or out of place. I socialize with one. Do business with another (he's my mechanic). And 1 is a loony mentally ill person that we only talk to if absolutely necessary. And even she comes out in emergencies and helps (tornados, old neighbor laying in his driveway, etc...) And that's it. We all look out for each other and generally stay off of each other's properties. But have no problems walking up and knocking on the door. That's how it's done.

Good luck with your situation.

 

[dmccarty]

If you wish to be contacted BY PHONE before potential trespassers actually trespass, perhaps you should add a sign that says call ###-###-#### before passing this sign/gate/barrier. Have you considered a call box? Is there a long distance RING-type doorbell?

In NC, legal no trespass signs have to meet certain requirements and should have a phone number listed. We can now use vertical purple stripes as a posted sign.

Later,
Dan

 

[NorTracNY]

"I wasn't rude, I gave him my phone number and let him know that if he needs something in the future that he needs to call."

Signs are one thing, but if you really want to avoid/minimize the number of people coming up to your door, you need to post a manner to contact you. Things happen where people will want to get in touch with you. I just had someone come up my long driveway to let me know they had a new horse break through a fence in the area. If this happened for your neighbor, do you want them to write you a letter? What if they wanted to warn you about a herd of wild dogs that just took out their animals. How about a rabid animal? I really like my privacy, but I know people are going to have valid reasons to stop by. Neighbors know they are welcomed. I think you did the right thing with the neighbor, I'm just noting your expectations may be off for new situations.

 

[TractorGuy]

Had the same results here. Close the gates.

 

[dmccarty]

We have had the same trespass issues for years. Signs and a gate are not obvious clues to the clue less, the morons, and those who think that laws, regulations, or wishes of others does not apply to them.

Even a closed gate has not prevented people climbing over or walking around the gate.

Regarding an acceptable time to visit. How is someone supposed to know what time is acceptable to ME? Our latest trespass issue is a dog walker and a jogger running up our private road at various times in the morning setting off alarms when I am trying to sleep. I guess they would not mind if I go ring their door bell whenever I feel like it?

What works MOST of the time is to keep the gate shut but that is a PITA since we do not have an automatic gate operator. Flip side is we don't have to deal with this often. Just every once in awhile some trespass issue pops up.

When the problem has been neighbors a chat has solved the problem. Most of the problem people are not neighbors.

Later,
Dan

 

[ericm979]

You'll get way fewer people coming up to the house unexpectedly with the gate. But you'll also need to give a gate code to the propane company and the fire dept. Maybe the power company too. You'll need a box for deliveries. A way to open the gate from the house is handy, as is a speaker/mic box at the gate so people can let you know they're there (or you can post a cell # if you have reception and keep your phone with you).

Our place came with a gate and comm system and after having it I would not be without it. We keep it closed most of the time. When we've left it open we've gotten all kinds of people. The previous owner put the gate in after some yahoos drove past his house to "go wheelin" and he had to run them off with a shotgun.

My neighbors are pretty good about calling to let us know they're coming (and I do the same) but if they don't, I don't get to wound up about it.

 

[MossRoad]

....
But give me a break......someone trying to find their beloved pet that got loose and going door to door.....someone broke down out front with a flat tire and no other driveways for miles, Or a neighbor simply wanting to introduce themselves and welcome you to the neighborhood...etc etc. Some people in this world really do have no social skills. I feel bad for those people.

First taste of that I had was back in the mid 70's. My dad was driving my up to Boy Scout camp on a Friday night. He had gotten off work late, and it was dark. Probably between 8-9pm. The clutch went out on our car, and we had to stop at a stop sign in a bowl, 4 hills up, no way out. That was that. So my dad walks over to the first house, and knocks on the door. We could see people inside. They wouldn't come to the door. So we go to the next house. He knocks on the door. A guy opens the door and points a shotgun at him and tells him to get off his property. Dad tells him our car died and asks if he could please use the phone to call a tow truck, or could the guy please call the police for us. The guy starts yelling at us, so we leave. So, we just go and sit in the car with the flashers on and about half an hour later, and several cars that don't stop even though my dad tries to flag them down, a cop happens by. Dad asked if he got called? Nope. He just happened by. He gives a tow truck a call and waits with us until the tow arrives. The cop says everyone in that area is weird and we were lucky we weren't shot at.

Pretty sad indeed.

 

[shooterdon]

My beef is with snowmobilers who ignore my no trespassing signs. And I live on a dead end road.

I posted my property to keep mushroomers and hunters off but signs are ignored. Mushroomers are the worst. Two signs were damaged by these jerks. During mushroom season, which is rapidly approaching, I will be doing a lot of load development for a couple of new rifles and some plinking as well. I have a good backstop even though I live in an isolated area. The locals know I shoot competitivedly and shoot a lot...the "outsiders" will not know if some weirdo is blasting randomly. LOL

As to the OP, I would want my new neighbors to intorduce themsleves but not early in the morning. I have a gate I can lock and normally just clip it shut during deer and mushroom season. But if you want nobody to enter, keeping a gate locked is a PITA and it gets old quickly. If your problem is with locals, a talk is all that is usually needed. If that does not work, charge them with trespassing and word spreads very quickly. If you are a "good guy", the others will accept it; but if you are a jerk, be prepared for more problems.

I had a local who I locked in when she trespassed to mushroom. She was a member of one of the major families in the area. When she came to my door to get the gate unlocked she said, "Don't you know who I am?" I said, "I really do not care..you are a trespasser. I can have you charged for not only trespassing but theft." Everyone had a big laugh about it when the story got out, and it stopped the locals from trespassing.

Good luck with your issues. No one right answer as it depends on you (how you are perceived and your personal quirks), your area, and the kind of trespassers (locals or outsiders) you are dealihg with.

BTW, you cannot draw a weapon or brandish even on your own property if things get ugly. If they do, you want to be the first to call law enforcement or the DNR. They will normally side with the property owner unless you do somethign really stupid.

 

[MossRoad]

On a side note again.... what is it with mushroom hunters?

:confused3:

I know morel mushrooms are good, but they aren't crack good! :confused2:

I've had a lot of trespassing issues with mushroom hunters since I was a kid, and at our remote property that's marked no trespassing, as well.

 

[shooterdon]

On a side note again.... what is it with mushroom hunters?

:confused3:

I know morel mushrooms are good, but they aren't crack good! :confused2:

I've had a lot of trespassing issues with mushroom hunters since I was a kid, and at our remote property that's marked no trespassing, as well.

Have to agree with you. My little 20 acres is a "honey hole" for the things. Stories of people selling them for $30-50 a pound. But there has been a drastic reduction in morels over the last two years. Locals think the decline of ash trees is tied to it.

Good news for me...I burn downed ash if it is free, and less incentive for the mushroomers to make the trip. But it is sad to see ash trees being decimated. Keep wondering what species is going to get hit next.

 

[dalola]

We have two trained German Shepherds. We have no issues with uninvited guests.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Down South "No Trespassing" store bought signs don't work. The ones that DO work are the crudely made, hand painted ones.

 

[Oaktree]

Yes, obviously. That's the explicit meaning of the sign. No trespassing means no entering the property without prior permission and the law (where I live at least) makes no exception because you have a really good reason.
Good for you. Happens to be the same here. But if someone wants to post their property then you are morally and legally required to respect their wishes regardless of your opinions on neighbors and passers-by.

Seems like a regional thing. People in the south, and parts of the west seem to get their shorts in a major knot if someone has the audacity to walk up their driveway. Other areas not so much.
In this part of the country unless there are signs (we're talking open land, not someone's yard), foot traffic is OK. Indeed, in N.H. if you want to put your land into current use (a tax designation), you can not ban non-motorized access to it.

In NC, legal no trespass signs have to meet certain requirements and should have a phone number listed. We can now use vertical purple stripes as a posted sign.

As with many states. At least at one time Vt. required the landowner's name and address on it, and I was once told that a sign is only good for a certain length of time before you need to renew it. Not sure if that just means you have to put up a new sign every so often or if there's more involved. This was second hand info, so it may not be 100% accurate.

How well known is the purple stripe designation? First I've ever heard of it. If I saw a sign that was nothing but purple stripes I wouldn't have had a clue what it meant.

 

[aczlan]

Down South "No Trespassing" store bought signs don't work. The ones that DO work are the crudely made, hand painted ones.View attachment 599766

Someone did a study and found that the best ones were official looking ones (ie: on a metal sign like the government uses).

Aaron Z

 

[Fuddy1952]

Seriously though when I bought additional adjoining property there were one neighbor's cows on it, another neighbor's bull on it, and kids on ATVs on it!
I didn't buy a public park...my insurance agent said they would cancel my policy (after being with them 40 years).
Everything had to go. The hassle and liability just wasn't worth it.
Right now I'm having a horse barn built. Gates have to stay open...trucks with supplies, workers, etc.
Recently just at dusk I hear an ATV slowly approaching. It was the cow guy checking things out. Then he spots me...he's on my place. I wave...he gives me the deer in headlights look then goes back home.
He's pixxed at me. I don't care as long as he does no damage.
If he was normal he would drive up my driveway, shake hands, ask to see what I was doing...that would be fine with me.
Everyone is welcome coming up driveway, ringing doorbell. I'll offer them a soda, sit and chat. Sneaking around I don't like.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

My wife was lost the other day in the suburbs. She turned around in someone's drive, then called me. A guy came out of the house screaming at her for turning around in his drive. My thought is, what a poor excuse of a human being.

Courts have already decided, unless you have a closed gate and signs, you have no expectation of privacy for people coming up your drive and knocking on your door.

 

[NorTracNY]

My wife was lost the other day in the suburbs. She turned around in someone's drive, then called me. A guy came out of the house screaming at her for turning around in his drive. My thought is, what a poor excuse of a human being.

Courts have already decided, unless you have a closed gate and signs, you have no expectation of privacy for people coming up your drive and knocking on your door.

I believe you are correct with the court. I have a longer than normal driveway. I did catch a person coming up my driveway to the house on one of my cameras. They got to where I have lawn and did a very quick turnaround using my lawn and leaving marks in the gravel driveway they did it so fast. The world has people of all sorts...

 

[Industrial Toys]

Maybe that guy, like me has underground vehicle sensors. My driveway entrance is wide and great for turning around, which people do. I need to look into those things that puncture your tires if you try and back up!

Or a sign that indicates that all of their emmitted RF information (and RFID credentials) is captured and stored if they cross a line. Some nice Yaggi antennas (Border Crossing Style) pointed at the driveway entrance might help.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

In case of police, SCOTUS ruled they need warrant to come looking in your driveway.