Trespassing signs, etiquette, good & bad neighbors

[TractorGuy]

Not around here they won't. I've had surveyors come on my property and leave 10" nails stuck in the ground with a piece of tape on it. They have done it twice while surveying adjoining property and left them. I had to hunt the nails and pull them so they wouldn't end up in a tractor tire.The heck of it is they place them 10 feet on my side of the line. I spoke to the surveyor about it and told him they needed to remove the nails when they were done and his reply was the nails would stay put. I told him the nails would come right up when I disc a fire line.

Wife was standing in the back yard when the last surveyor just climbed over the fence and walked up on our property. Scared tha bajesus out of her.

The state lists several occupations that can trespass without notice. Surveyors, map makers, property appraisers, and some others.

Wife came home one day and found a property appraiser behind our house. He was measuring my carport that has been there for 20 years. That was before I gated the entrance. I called and was told the property appraiser WOULD call for an appointment if you have a gate. He ignored the no trespassing signs. Another reason I now have gates.

I personally have a problem with ANYONE just showing up on my property unannounced. BUT the bottom line is we don't actually OWN our property, the government does. Try not paying the property tax one time and you find out who owns it.

So a bunch of us want to be literal about the meaning of the words "no trespassing" but we can fudge on the meaning of property ownership? You own the property. If you can't afford to pay the taxes, that's an entirely different issue.

Cafeteria-style interpretation of the laws, where you pick and choose what you want to follow, appears to be an American tradition.

My reference to "Try not paying the taxes one time and you find out who owns it." was simply pointing out that the government can pass laws allowing certain entities and professions the right to trespass without the property owner having a say in it. It wasn't really a statement about not being able to pay ones taxes.

 

[two_bit_score]

My reference to "Try not paying the taxes one time and you find out who owns it." was simply pointing out that the government can pass laws allowing certain entities and professions the right to trespass without the property owner having a say in it. It wasn't really a statement about not being able to pay ones taxes.

Of course!

Anyone taking it that way was just trying to be provocative and argumentative.



TBS

 

[YanmarFever]

A good size dog and a 6' chain link fence keeps everyone out of our yard + an electric gate.

Fences make good neighbors..

 

[civilian]

I just finished reading this thread. And yes there are a lot of different opinions out there, each specific to ones needs. In my case, I am a bit cautious to who just wonders into my new to me 80 acres. My drive is an abandoned county road. County abandoned it back in 88. It still shows up on the old maps. Luckily not on Google maps. The property along the county road has be signed, no tresspassing/private etc over the years. I have had a few visitors drive in checking things out. One I didn't get to question, the other said there were looking for a specific road or person. They both left. But worries me is the time we are not home. We do have a cheap gate with a no tresspaasing sign on it. It has no lock, just a rope holding it closed. A friend going past saw the gate closed and did not stop. Hearing about that, I told him he should have come in. "Nope, you had a sign and the gate was closed" If we are at home gate is mostly left open. But this spring the drive was impassable due to the frost coming out of the ground. 4WD was a must. So we left the gate closed. More afraid someone would drop in and get stuck in the mud and I could not get around them to pull them out.

But on the note of friends dropping in to visit, we are building our home now. Dropping in when I just mixed a batch of mud to tape the drywall seams, or just coated both said to lay formica doesn't go well with me. Calling ahead would possibly work, but calling from the gate doesn't work. Cell phone coverage is poor at best. Jon

 

[Nikkorott]

I've read these forums quite a bit. They are extremely helpful so I wanted to say thanks to everyone on this thread and others. I'm by no means an expert on this topic but I do have quite a bit of experience... unfortunately.

In my case, I bought a foreclosed property about 6 years ago. I never thought that I would have a place like this, 30 acres on the river in California. I love this place and pinch myself every morning. When I first moved in I had to deal with a few mystery fires. Then about a month in I found some would be thieves had their truck parked behind my barn. That's a long story. It's actually kind of funny now. I got a knife pulled on me that time. I've caught people hunting my property because "they used to as kids". Some other folks hunting coyotes at night really torqued my shorts. I still get mad when I think of that one. These all happened in my first year here.

This is what I've done to manage access. Your situation will probably differ. I'm telling you this for info only. I fully fenced and gated my property. I have No Trespassing & Beware of Dog signs up every 300 feet. These aren't for any would be trespassers. They're there to show the sheriff that I've made the effort to keep people out. I don't lock my gates. Nor do I have my phone number on the No Trespassing signs. I don't really want crank calls from anybody.

When I come across trespassers I come at them direct and hot. I don't carry a gun. In my opinion, you're asking for trouble if you do. I can tell in about 5 seconds whether people are just lost or looky loos. I get business cards from any professionals (Surveyors, Sales People, etc...). If they don't have a business cards I get their Id and take photo of it. If they don't supply one or the other I call the sheriff. A couple times, the sheriff knew who I was talking about just by the description of the truck. Most of the time I end up giving directions or even escorting folks back to "civilization".

I've found people thinking it was a neat idea to have a picnic with their little dogs, a fisherman thinking taking a poo was a good idea, a couple actors (My neighbor rented his place out for a movie shoot) who got lost. Just yesterday a cyclist found that I wasn't bluffing with my Beware of Dog signs. My Rottweiler helped him over the fence.

In my opinion, it's not a city versus country thing. It's a lack of respect for others.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Agree with above... If I wanted to share my property I would live in a State Park...

 

[WoodChuckDad]

I bought just over 50 acres in Virginia in 2015. The day I closed on the property, i put up no trespassing signs along the gravel road. Soon after, i waked the whole property and put silver grey paint marks on trees which means no trespassing, in my state. I had 25 acres logged and cut right up to the border in 3 spots. I have had neighbors say things to me about the mess on my property from the logging. About what i am doing with the land. Where i am building, where i am planting. I have found pictures of neighbors on my land from my game cams. Some with rifles. I went to their front door and explained the no trespassing signs and my concerns both for their own safety with all the machines and added obstacles to my desire for private enjoyment of my property. Gave them my phone number in case there was an emergency such as a lost pet. Or cow or other farm animal. Around here it happens. I’ve had cows walk right up the driveway. And told them that obviously if there was a lost child don’t even bother to call. Just go ahead.
Recently i have had the permanent trailer license plate stolen off my utility trailer twice. That happened on my farm. It is the sort of thing that gives me an attitude. I will be putting an automatic control on my gate. Right now i keep it locked when i am not there. That still doesn’t stop trespassers and thieves. But i try to remember that not everyone is a dirtbag. I have made some accommodations in my planned use of land to be considerate of my existing neighbors and when i had a question arise about the property line, recently, I halted all work and had surveyors come out and stake the line. I carry a 45 on my hip when I’m outside on my land. most of my neighbors don’t. I am sure word has gotten around about that. I do that because it is more comfortable than my concealed carry holster when i am bending and lifting things on the farm. I carry all the time except when i am at my day job. That is a life decision I have made. One reason is that I was LEO for a number of years. The other is that I prefer to have that tool available if needed. We have large bear and multiple types of varmint here. I try to go softer with my approach to trespassers. My natural attitude is just beneath the surface so putting a calm face on it is better for me. I can always summon a little John Wayne attitude if needed. I have become friendly with some of the locals and have allowed them to run their dogs across my property a couple times during bear season. I made clear that it was not card blanch and only for specific named days since i also hunt. And shoot and farm my land and do other things that make me value my privacy.
Good luck with your signs and privacy. There are lots of us who have similar problems.

 

[paulfun9]

A good size dog and a 6' chain link fence keeps everyone out of our yard + an electric gate.

Fences make good neighbors..

My only addition to this is to ensure that dogs for this type use are properly trained.
Many think the dog can just roam and be effective but it takes time and work to ensure the Dog knows his job and won’t be distracted or waver from his duties.

Sadly we recently lost our Best German Shepard and today was the first day with his replacement. I will be training this dog for a minimum of a year before he will be left to patrol entirely on his own.

 

[YanmarFever]

My only addition to this is to ensure that dogs for this type use are properly trained.
Many think the dog can just roam and be effective but it takes time and work to ensure the Dog knows his job and won’t be distracted or waver from his duties.

Sadly we recently lost our Best German Shepard and today was the first day with his replacement. I will be training this dog for a minimum of a year before he will be left to patrol entirely on his own.

Paul, Im sorry about your loss, I have been there with a favorite pet too.
It also took a lot of work to train the replacement.
Good luck
Tractor Ernie

 

[paulfun9]

Thank You!

It’s never easy loosing a long time companion or replacing a 14 year vet with a new dog. He patrolled Fathfully for 12 years on his own and only let his age affect him going into the winter. Sadly in January he took a turn for the worst and we had to let him go!
We have trained more dogs than I can count over the years and when it comes down to it I have to say he was the best I ever had.
The new boy comes from good lines and we are very hopeful but he has some real big paws to fill!