Trespassing signs, etiquette, good & bad neighbors

[coldsteelva]

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?

 

[dodge man]

I agree with Milkster, if the guy came by early then it was his fault. I do not mind people dropping by as long as they are not salesman and not weird hours.

 

[Oldoak]

trespass, verb - enter the owner's land or property without permission.

Has nothing to do with whether someone thinks they have legitimate business with the owner.

So I guess someone who is lost or had an accident and is seeking help would be banned from that property as well even though they may have thought they had a legitimate reason.

Around my area neighbors help each other as well as strangers seeking help.


I can see where this thread is going to run for several pages...............

 

[cdb2]

So I guess someone who is lost or had an accident and is seeking help would be banned from that property as well even though they may have thought they had a legitimate reason. [/U]

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.

Around my area neighbors help each other as well as strangers seeking help.

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.

 

[oosik]

I have a mile long gravel driveway. It is the ONLY way in/out of my property. I do have a No Trespassing sign on the outer gate. My gate is open during the winter and until the neighbor turns out his herds of cows. Then the outer gate is closed and it keeps them in and on his property. The inner gate on my driveway keeps his cows out of my 80 acres. It is open/closed on the same schedule as the outer gate.

I do not mind strangers. As long as they will come up to the house and identify themselves. There is a turn around just prior to the inner gate where "lost souls" can go back out the driveway without entering my property. It is used regularly. Many are just curious and after traveling down a mile long driveway, notice that coming thru the inner gate is not where they want to be. That is also fine with me.

It is those who come all the way into my yard - recognize that I am home - make a fast exit. These are the ones that may create trouble for themselves.

I suffer miscreants and thieves poorly. They will be treated as they deserve.

 

[JamesHW]

My take is that no trespassing signs are not usually displayed around a house and yard, but rather for undeveloped or Ag acreage. Maybe off to the side. As others have noted a fence with a locked gate is the solution. Honestly I think no trespassing signs are rather ugly to display out in front of your house, but maybe that’s just me. As to signage I might go for a “Private - No Peddlers” or some such if I was really cared. 6 AM I’ve already finished my oatmeal and am on my third cup of coffee, so it would be a really early visit to interrupt our breakfast.

As a kid at our farm we had cellar door just below our kitchen window and kids would always climb on it and stick their head in the window, curious as to what we were doing or when we were coming out to play. Eventually we had to tactfully set some rules to allow for privacy (some of those kids are good friends, 55 years later). Supposedly my mom’s pony used to do the same thing and stick it’s head in the window for treats. No local kids back then as the nearest neighbors were a mile away, not across the road, and in any event they had 8 foot wire fence and gate (almost all gone now) to keep the animals off the road.

A fence and gate with an electric lock and a ring camera would be the way I would go

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

OP,

You should handle it the same way Robert Duvall and Michael Caine handle it in the movie Second Hand Lions. Complete with the signs you drive by, and sitting on your front porch with a shotgun. Make sure you shoot at anyone that gets out of their car.

 

[widefat]

Getting ready to put up a gate. The decision points for me are the woodchucks and day laborers coming up the driveway looking for work while my wife is home alone.
Friends and neighbors will have a code and understand they can open anytime they want.

 

[LouNY]

I have a mile long gravel driveway. It is the ONLY way in/out of my property. I do have a No Trespassing sign on the outer gate. My gate is open during the winter and until the neighbor turns out his herds of cows. Then the outer gate is closed and it keeps them in and on his property. The inner gate on my driveway keeps his cows out of my 80 acres. It is open/closed on the same schedule as the outer gate.

I do not mind strangers. As long as they will come up to the house and identify themselves. There is a turn around just prior to the inner gate where "lost souls" can go back out the driveway without entering my property. It is used regularly. Many are just curious and after traveling down a mile long driveway, notice that coming thru the inner gate is not where they want to be. That is also fine with me.

It is those who come all the way into my yard - recognize that I am home - make a fast exit. These are the ones that may create trouble for themselves.

I suffer miscreants and thieves poorly. They will be treated as they deserve.

My thinking and behavior exactly, when someone pulls up in the driveway I want to know who they are and what they are about.
If someone is so hellbent on privacy that they expect everyone to call before using a driveway you need to lock it up.
And don't expect any assistance from your neighbors if anything happens to you or yours.
If I don't want them I'll tell them they are trespassing and to git gone and never return.
If you are that touchy about your property I hope that you never use anyone else's driveway or field road to turn around in.

 

[LD1]

I can see the potential for this thread to turn ugly quick.

Without more detail....its hard to gauge the situation in its entirety. As others said.....was this 6AM or 10AM?

And sure....letter of the law makes no exception for trespassers even with good reason. If a homeowner wanted to be a d**k about it and press charges....thats what the court system is for. I find it hard to believe someone would actually be convicted and face consequences for any number of legitimate reasons as already mentioned.

What happened to simply being neighborly? Most put up signs for 1. A formality to cover them selves from liability....and 2. to let people know its not a free for all to hunt, nature walk, ride ATV's, loiter around, etc.

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.