Trespassing signs, etiquette, good & bad neighbors

[greenmojo]

Hello All! It's been a while since I logged in... maybe a couple of years. Sorry!

I've been thinking about these questions for a while and wanted to seek your opinions and thoughts.

The property has a private road that comes off of the country road, and has a couple of turns before it goes through our gate, up a hill and onto the flat where the house, pastures, gardens, etc are at. Our problem is that this morning, a new property owner in the area ends up on his quad, out in front of the house, and eventually walks up onto the front porch while the family is still in their pajamas eating breakfast.

We have no trespassing signs on either side of the gate (the gate was open), yet people still drive right through and when you mention it, they just act as if they didn't see them (or maybe they didn't notice). We are installing an automatic gate opener / closer in the next couple of weeks, but I wanted to know how everyone else deals with this.

I didn't know if I needed a more aggressive no trespassing or keep out signs?

I don't enter a property with no trespassing signs unless I've been invited, and just expect the same courtesy, and I can't think of a way to educate people with signage. When they are standing at your front door or looking through your living room window, it's too late to educate, especially if they are a one-time, uninvited visitor.

Side note, we had a WA State Patrol officer that had questions for me about a rural neighbor, he stopped outside of the open gate and called me on the phone and asked for permission to come onto the property, and mentioned that he respects no trespassing signs because of his particular rural duty.

Any ideas, thoughts or? Just frustrated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[bcp]

Signs don't do much good. Everyone thinks they have a valid reason for ignoring them.

Gave up on signs, and just shut the gate all the time, home or not. That way the gate doesn't indicate if we are home or gone.

Bruce

 

[greenmojo]

That's solid wisdom. You are very right, every single person, whether it is a new neighbor, the neighbor we don't like, the county assessor, people that are lost, etc -- they all think they are exempt from the signs. Very good point.

 

[Jim Shooz]

If he had a legitimate reason to come and talk to you why shouldn't he come on to your property. He wasn't trespassing, he wanted to see you on business. Even if it was to introduce himself and say "hi, I'm your new neighbour"

 

[greenmojo]

If he had a legitimate reason to come and talk to you why shouldn't he come on to your property. He wasn't trespassing, he wanted to see you on business. Even if it was to introduce himself and say "hi, I'm your new neighbour"

Like Bruce said, they all *think* they have a legitimate reason. Some people don't mind having neighbors or random people drop-in on them, and that's great, good for them. I don't. I enjoy close friends, and family dropping in, but absolutely despise being surprised by people I don't know.

This guy came by to see if I wanted to buy fence posts, and asked to borrow some equipment. Those are not legitimate reasons to pass signs that clearly say, "No Trespassing, Private Property". Just because someone doesn't have my phone number, and wants to talk to me isn't enough of a reason to start driving down private roads looking for me. Like I said in my original post, even the State Patrol officer knew to call first before driving up my private road, because he was not invited.

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. But this goes back to my original question, which is how to stop this first step, where everyone believes they are exempt from no trespassing signs because they think they have a good reason.

I think Bruce is right, signs don't work, and I will just have to get the automatic gates installed.

 

[cdb2]

He wasn't trespassing, he wanted to see you on business.

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.

 

[LD1]

Perhaps you should just talk to your neighbor. Explain how you feel.

I have neighbors around that have no-trespassing signs up. But they are not for me. As I have permission to hunt, tap trees for syrup, cut firewood, etc etc.

If I were to put up signs of my own.....my neighbors would still be welcome. Thats about being a good and friendly neighbor. If your intent with YOUR signs was to keep all your neighbors away, perhaps you should let him know that the signs apply to him and not just outta towners

 

[mikester]

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’s 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.

 

[txdon]

Unless you have a physical barrier - A locked gate - you can expect uninvited visitors. That is life in the country. The few times I left the gate open someone unwelcome visitor always managed to dive up, and yes one was the tax assessor, one very religious person , someone looking for a dog, one guy that had some asphalt left over from a job etc etc. . .

I think your signs on your new automatic gate will help a lot. I had no unwelcome guest when my gate was closed.

Get a good gate opener or you will leave it open if it breaks and your problem will resurface quickly.
High Quality Automatic Solar Gate Openers & Accessories

If someone crosses you physical barrier, for your safety, be armed. For some reason people think that people in rural areas are trusting and gullible.

Edit, lou brought up a good point on delivery people, leave your phone number on your gate or a box for packages. We never had a problem with theft of packages from the gate, but I kept track of them with the tracking number and knew the time the UPS/Fedex delivered and the packages would seldom be left out for more than an hour. It was very quiet and I could hear the truck miles away.

 

[LouNY]

I would not expect no trespassing signs to include the driveway.
I take it you do not have any delivery's to your place.
If you expect absolutely no trespassing a closed and locked gate is your only way.
I am surprised a deputy would stop and call.

 

[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.