No trespassing sign

[TerryR]

Quite a few states recognize purple paint as the legal equivalent of No Trespassing signs. One website claims these states are included:
-Texas
-Illinois
-Missouri
-North Carolina
-Maine
-Florida
-Idaho
-Arkansas
-Montana
-Arizona
-Kansas

In addition Tennessee passed a law recognizing purple paint this year.

In NC the rules for applying it are "Each paint mark must be a vertical line of at least eight inches in length, and the bottom of the mark shall be no less than three feet or more than five feet from the base of the tree or post."

 

[oosik]

Well, Terry, I certainly can't speak to all the states on your list. I do have experience in Idaho and I guess somebody better tell all the folks in Idaho about the purple paint. They still use NO TRESPASSING signs.

If I put purple paint on my gate posts - a knock at my door - I open the door and expect to see Papa Smurf - ha,ha.

I know ignorance is no excuse but I go to one of those states on the list - see purple marks and how am I supposed to know what they mean. Where exactly do I research the state laws and find out what purple means. And on top of all of that - why in the world would I think "No Trespassing" when I saw purple marks.

A sign saying No Trespassing is pretty easily understood.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Well, Terry, I certainly can't speak to all the states on your list. I do have experience in Idaho and I guess somebody better tell all the folks in Idaho about the purple paint. They still use NO TRESPASSING signs.

If I put purple paint on my gate posts - a knock at my door - I open the door and expect to see Papa Smurf - ha,ha.

I know ignorance is no excuse but I go to one of those states on the list - see purple marks and how am I supposed to know what they mean. Where exactly do I research the state laws and find out what purple means. And on top of all of that - why in the world would I think "No Trespassing" when I saw purple marks.

A sign saying No Trespassing is pretty easily understood.

In the states listed as using "POSTED PURPLE" you don't need to put up signs that someone can shoot holes in nor do you need a fence. The purple paint on trees is enough for folks to know to keep out. Fines are the same as trespassing when fenced and with signs so beware when you go into states with those laws. Google "posted Purple" for your info.

 

[zzvyb6]

Mine says "We Call Miss Dig" with a backhoe silhouette.

 

[CMV]

In addition to the basic orange on black 'No Trespassing' signs and purple lines on tree trunks, I have a large sign on the gate that reads: "NO TRESPASSING. I OWN FIREARMS AND A BACKHOE"

Land is all fenced, but not really high enough to keep anyone who wants in out. I added some of that privacy netting along the front too. Unless someone is really short, they can just walk up to the gate and look over, but it's something to at least reinforce the point that uninvited guests aren't welcome.

The shooting benches, berms, silhouette targets, etc also make it very obvious it's a gun range.

One would think that would be enough to prevent trespassers, but it hardly is. May as well leave the gate open and set out tea and cookies.... Since I'm only there for spot checks and working/playing on weekends, I pretty much depend on my trail cameras to watch the place for me. Very surprising how many people are there snooping about in a typical week.

 

[CCWKen]

Also, Texas doesn't require any sign or warning of any kind if it is obvious that the property is used for production or stock. The mere presents or remnants of such is evidence enough the land is POSTED. And Texas has long held that "Ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it". And this can be the difference between simple trespass and a more serious criminal trespass.

Every property owner should know the laws in their own state as most deputies don't have a clue about property laws.

 

[oosik]

I guess it is just very prudent to look for any colored markings. God knows, some states may accept other colors. SUCH AS IDAHO - they only accept orange, bright orange or fluorescent orange. In Idaho - purple means absolutely NOTHING. I've heard some states accept Red others maybe bright yellow - who is to know???

Thank goodness - in WA its only the sign. So far - no color has any meaning.

 

[yomax4]

Sadly in Minnesota you need a certain sized sign with certain sized letters and a certain sized signature with phone # or it's an invalid posting. Dumb Sh-ts. I have had good luck with one on my road that says " Smile You're on Trail Camera ". And they are. A 1/2" steel band protects the SD card from gun shots. You can shoot the camera but the card will get you. And it has. I keep the cameras 12' off the ground. Read and clear the pics with my laptop.

 

[CMV]

Sadly in Minnesota you need a certain sized sign with certain sized letters and a certain sized signature with phone # or it's an invalid posting. Dumb Sh-ts. I have had good luck with one on my road that says " Smile You're on Trail Camera ". And they are. A 1/2" steel band protects the SD card from gun shots. You can shoot the camera but the card will get you. And it has. I keep the cameras 12' off the ground. Read and clear the pics with my laptop.

I do similar & have switched to mostly Moultrie invisible LED cameras. They sell a steel lockbox for them for about $25 which is decent for what it is. With a good padlock and a Python cable lock thru it, pretty secure. No one will steal the camera without destroying in most likely. But could be disabled/vandalized easily enough I suppose.

What I do is have several (many) of them scattered about and several up high enough you need to get up off the ground to get at them. But every camera has at least 1-2 others pointed at it. So even if someone sees some - and there are older dead ones placed in conspicuous spots as 'bait' - chances are they won't see every single one and i'll have good images of anyone messing with them.

Another idea if using trail cams to double as security cameras - take the older wireless router antennas and affix one to the trail cam in a way that it looks factory. That will make anyone who sees it assume it is either cellular or recording to a separate receiver. 1/2" black Delrin round stock and a minute on the lathe will produce many great fake antennas as well. If the potential vandal/thief assumes the recording is getting sent to the cloud vs the internal SD card takes away the motivation to mess with the camera.

 

[TerryR]

Well, Terry, I certainly can't speak to all the states on your list. I do have experience in Idaho and I guess somebody better tell all the folks in Idaho about the purple paint. They still use NO TRESPASSING signs.

In all states that allow the use of paint you can also use signs. But as someone else posted in Idaho the color of the paint is orange, not purple. I did an Internet search of the states listed and found this:

Texas - signs or purple paint

Illinois - signs or purple paint

Missouri - signs or purple paint

North Carolina - signs or purple paint

Maine - signs or purple paint

Florida - signs or international orange paint WITH signs

Idaho - signs or fluorescent orange paint

Arkansas - signs or purple paint

Montana - signs or fluorescent orange paint

Arizona - signs or oranges paint

Kansas - signs or purple paint

So it looks like you need to watch for several colors if you travel out of state.

A sign saying No Trespassing is pretty easily understood.

They are also easily vandalized, which is why the paint is allowed as a substitute in many places.