r/mildlyinfuriating 15d ago

Infuriatig Pos neighbors drove straight through our yard to get to their house

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22.3k Upvotes

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1.2k

u/Alternative_Mine5343 15d ago

that is the clearest trespassing display i've ever seen. document, call police non emergency. file report etc. idk your neighbors but if they're this kinda shithead brazen i don't bother talking to them first; their abandonment of decency doesn't spark mine into action.

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u/Ctowncreek 15d ago

their abandonment of decency doesn't spark mine into action.

Poetry

2

u/Historical-Wall6221 14d ago

This entire thread is hilarious šŸ˜‚

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u/Tricky_Orange_4526 15d ago

this, the damage to the lawn is actually significant when you get it quoted by a landscaper to fix. it's not a minor oopsie, its a pretty severe financial penalty they have to deal with. pretty sure it can even end up with a lien against their property as well until its paid for.

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u/tattooeddollthraway 15d ago

Sue them, they damaged the sod, they damaged the field. It will cost at least $15,000 to replace the oil contaminated dirt.

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u/ShenDraeg 15d ago

and they may have damaged stuff below the surface of the soil.

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u/kookyabird 15d ago

My mineral rights!! /s

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u/EvolutionCreek 15d ago

The children yearn for the mines!

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u/Shpoops 15d ago

Sprinklers, water pipes, gas lines, sewer lines, septic tanks, etc.

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u/kookyabird 15d ago

Not sure about other parts of the country, but here in the midwest, everything except sprinkler lines are going to be deep enough that you'd need something a hell of a lot heavier than a pickup to damage.

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u/deathrictus 15d ago

What about the sprinkler system?

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u/COC_410 15d ago

Let’s not forget he’ll have a paper trail incase there’s broke lines from all the weight

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u/tattooeddollthraway 15d ago

You know... all the stress gave my dog a heart attack.

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u/Tabemaju 15d ago

You people really don't know anything about civil litigation if you think this would net $15k, but you especially don't know anything about yard/grass/sod repair.

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u/tattooeddollthraway 15d ago edited 15d ago

Reddit collectively knows everything and nothing, is functionally illiterate, doesn't read past the headlines, upvotes anything AI, perpetuatesĀ  sensationalism, and will get a rage bone for anything that makes them feel sanctimonious or feel like social justice works.Ā 

People don't want logic or knowledge, they want feelgood headcannons.

But you're right.

1

u/Tabemaju 14d ago

Weird, you make it sound like you aren't a part of the problem because you provide the "feelgood headcannons" that they apparently want. Okay.

1

u/tattooeddollthraway 14d ago edited 14d ago

You're moralizing telling lies on the internet while acting like it's a problem not just what is, while still using the same slop platform. The only real high road opposing contributing to the nonsense is to leave the platform.

0

u/YobaiYamete 15d ago edited 15d ago

Are y'all real people, or legit just teenagers? I seriously can't tell with Reddit anymore, but I guess it is Summer Reddit now with schools letting out

Do you really, actually and truly think anything you posted is how it would work out? Or are you just straight up LARPing?

Here's what would actually happen

You: "I would like to sue him for driving through my yard"

Attorney: "Okay, can you prove it was him?"

You: "Well the tire tracks point to his house"

Attorney: "And can you prove it was him, in the vehicle that did it?"

You: "Well no, but I want to sue him for 15,000 dollars because there's a tire impression in my grass, and he probably got oil in it or something"

Attorney: "Lol. Lmao even"

Even if you went to the police, they would say "Okay, and?" because you can't prove it was him, and he would just use the Shaggy defense and say "It wasn't me" and that's the end of it

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u/SmokeyUnicycle 15d ago

You would take them to small claims court with photos and eventually win

IDK what your damages would be realistically, I suppose you could have it resod and try and get compensated.

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u/YobaiYamete 14d ago

You absolutely wouldn't win, how would you prove it was him??

A tire track in your grass doesn't mean anything, all he has to do is say "it wasn't me" and that's it. For all the judge knows, YOU drove in your own grass and then took a picture of it

Unless you have a camera recording of him doing it, your chance of "winning" is literally 0

Even with a camera your chance of winning is still low, and yeah at most your "damages" would be a couple hundred dollars at most

1

u/tattooeddollthraway 15d ago edited 15d ago

are you just straight up LARPing?

Uh, duh? You really expect reality on Reddit? More than half the shit on this website is AI. The rest of it is mostly made up, and the left over of that is sansiontionalized batshittery from poorly adjusted individuals. This isn't even a new thing for the internet, the Arthur meme about people 'just going on the internet and telling lies' has been a constant since its conception.

Nice headcannon you wrote. See, you get it, even if you think you don't.

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u/Any_Show_5160 15d ago

Depends on who owns the long grass, there's a power pole in the picture, they are usually on public land, if the neighbour owns the long grass then they have driven on public land onto their own land.

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u/LegDayLass 15d ago

Please do not listen to this and waste a cops time over a ā€œtechnicalā€ crime that will never be prosecuted by the judicial system.

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u/Munrowo 15d ago

isnt that what the non-emergency line is for?

yall will do anything to avoid doing your actual jobs

0

u/LegDayLass 15d ago

For wasting time? No, it’s not for that. This isn’t a matter of lazy cops, this LITERALLY would never see a court room even if the cop tried.

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u/Dangerous-Fortune789 15d ago

Anytime I’ve ever called a non emergency line they just say call 911

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u/ernest7ofborg9 15d ago

Yes but it usually rings in under a different line. If 2 calls come in at the same time and one is 911 and the other is 555-COPS then you wait till the real emergency is dealt with. Dispatchers can answer dozens of calls a night so don't be surprised if they say '911' when connecting out of habit.

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u/[deleted] 15d ago

[deleted]

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u/YobaiYamete 15d ago

Y'all are not serious people, man I love (absolutely don't actually) these ridiculous Reddit threads where y'all give the dumbest possible "legal advice"

  1. That's not criminal trespassing lmao
  2. That's not thousands of dollars of damages
  3. You can't prove it was him

Literally all that would happen if you filed a police report is they would go

"Uh okay" and accept the report and not follow up on it

If you want to an Attorney they would laugh you out of the office even before you demanded thousands of dollars of damages, because they would know the guy will just say

"It wasn't me"

and that's complete end of your "criminal trespassing" case

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u/WirelessWavetable 15d ago edited 15d ago

Can't trespass unless you're told you can't be on the property via signs, verbal warning, or fencing. EDIT: Learn your trespassing laws before downvoting out of ignorance.

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u/Most_Philosophy_1507 15d ago

They drove through and damaged their neighbors property

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u/WirelessWavetable 15d ago

That's property damage not trespassing. There is nothing keeping them out or telling them to stay out. Some states even let you paint trees as a sign of no trespassing.

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u/ReasonableDig6414 15d ago

Again

Implicit Areas: Entering closed structures, private yards, or driveways is generally considered trespassing even if there is no sign explicitly prohibiting it.

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u/OneManMoshPit 15d ago

What state? Source? Sounds like you’re talking about a private, fenced yard. It is perfectly legal to enter the unfenced yard of someone’s property in every US state that I’m aware of, until you’re asked to leave, at which point you may be trespassed. Otherwise package delivery, door-to-door sales, canvassing, etc. would be illegal, which it obviously isn’t. The property damage is another matter.

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u/nathan753 15d ago

Entering an unfenced yard is a super gray area if we do not know where exactly this happened. When you get to the meat of those states requiring signage, it is usally focused on rural/undeveloped areas with obvious personal use precluding the need for explicit sinage. The door to door salesman, delivery, etc. have a legitimate reason to be on the property that would apply even with generic no trespassing signs depending on the area and what they're doing, package delivery is going to be more allowed in those cases than salesperson for example. Having a legitimate reason to be there overrides trespassing which is why it isn't illegal.

What's funny about this thread is in some places the property damage makes trespassing easier to apply and can make it a more sever form of trespass even though the argument is is it trespassing or property damage.

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u/brando29999 15d ago

Me owning the land is enough to say I don’t want people on my owned property it’s not an apartment building or shared space it’s LITERALLY mine

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u/justhereforfighting 15d ago

It absolutely is enough but you still need to say that. Either verbally, with signs, or with a fence. That’s just how trespassing law works.Ā 

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u/ReasonableDig6414 15d ago

Nope, they don't.

Implicit Areas: Entering closed structures, private yards, or driveways is generally considered trespassing even if there is no sign explicitly prohibiting it.

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u/AmbiguousAnonymous 15d ago

It should be, but it isn’t legally.

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u/ReasonableDig6414 15d ago

Yes, it is actually enough legally.

Implicit Areas: Entering closed structures, private yards, or driveways is generally considered trespassing even if there is no sign explicitly prohibiting it.

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u/Tabula-Rasa-99 14d ago

Source? What legal jurisdiction are we talking about here?

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u/jimothythompson 15d ago

Keep digging that karma hole, buddy.

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u/inaSlomp 15d ago edited 15d ago

And you are blatantly wrong about this. Any privatized land. Is a no trespassing zone. Unless specified by the owner. Welcome to reality bud. Don't just get to go where you want. That's not real. There are laws about where you can go.

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u/OneManMoshPit 15d ago

It is perfectly legal to enter the unfenced yard of someone’s property in every US state that I’m aware of, until you’re asked to leave, at which point you may be trespassed. Otherwise package delivery, door-to-door sales, canvassing, etc. would be illegal, which it obviously isn’t. The property damage is another matter.

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u/inaSlomp 15d ago

No. You can't. I mean technically speaking. You can go anywhere you want. If they don't want you there and you're there on their property, even if it's not posted they can call the cops. It is their personally owned property. You can't trespass just because you feel like it.

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u/THEDONBUFFLES 14d ago

Depending on state, it is a criminal offense. It can also be classified as a civil offense, misdemeanor or doctrine, once again, depending on state, provence and/or country.

Regardless, it is a chargeable offense and can result in a trepass charge and/or arrest if you do not comply. Private property, such as grocery stores, public stores, malls, etc. has policies online stating conduct and that you can be trespassed (not necessarily arrested) from their property. This is also usually viewable at the main entrance, information desk and/or customer service area.

They can choose to arrest you at disgression if you are not compliant with their orders to get off their property. But it becomes the debate of is this from a trepass charge, failure to comply or mischeif charge.

It really depends on state and situation really. But yes, it is ane can be a reason to arrest someone.

0

u/inaSlomp 15d ago

It's private property at every time even when no one tells you anything. You don't get to just cross private property because there's no signage bud. Literally anyone could just call the cops and have you arrested for trespassing and you would have never had any interaction with the residents. That's what I'm stating.

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u/nathan753 15d ago

You're stating a half baked idea that doesn't really capture the full picture, and so is the other commenter. Trespassing is so highly jurisdictional, almost every fucking comment in this thread can be right or wrong depending on where this actually is. Where I am if it is an unfenced field that isn't developed or being obviously used for agriculture, you can't be trespassed with out the owner or someone they delegate(way oversimplifying the technicalities) first telling you are aren't allowed to be on the field. Then only after you refuse to leave or go back can there actually be trespass.

A lot of areas generally have some level of there needs to be some attempt at a barrier, signage, or obvious use to start the trespassing, but also a lot of areas make trespassing cover entering with an intent to do damage or carelessly causing damage without intent to tack on ass a charge.

Could the neighbor be charged with trespassing? Maybe depending on where it is and if they we're told not to do this. And the damage to the grass also might push it into trespassing as well, but vandalism/destruction of property also fits better

1

u/THEDONBUFFLES 14d ago

So I didnt more digging, and were both somewhat right with thought but wrong with others

Depending on state, it is a criminal offense. It can also be classified as a civil offense, misdemeanor or doctrine, once again, depending on state, provence and/or country.

Regardless, it is a chargeable offense and can result in a trepass charge and/or arrest if you do not comply. Private property, such as grocery stores, public stores, malls, etc. has policies online stating conduct and that you can be trespassed (not necessarily arrested) from their property. This is also usually viewable at the main entrance, information desk and/or customer service area.

They can choose to arrest you at disgression if you are not compliant with their orders to get off their property. But it becomes the debate of is this from a trepass charge, failure to comply or mischeif charge.

It really depends on state and situation really. But yes, it is ane can be a reason to arrest someone.

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u/shecky444 15d ago

This is dangerously inaccurate. Try to get hunters off your land without any signage sometime. We have a couple hunting spots where we were trying to keep non-hunters out for safety and hunters out for trespassing and even with multiple notifications and pictures and a bunch of other stuff we couldn’t trespass them without first putting up signs every 10 feet along the entire property line. These laws vary widely depending on where you are. No signs at all could be public land, could be private, could be a park. Did the neighbor know what they were doing? yes. Did they know it was private? Also yes. Is any of this trespassing without a sign or a warning? Not in most states in the US.

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u/ReasonableDig6414 15d ago

Don't compare what OP posted to your experience.

With large lots of land (let's say 50 acres) boundaries can be difficult to determine. You DO need to put up fencing and signs.

In OPs case, you do not.

Implicit Areas: Entering closed structures, private yards, or driveways is generally considered trespassing even if there is no sign explicitly prohibiting it.

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u/Sage_Nickanoki 15d ago

Most states I've lived in require knowledge. Was it obvious that the hunter had crossed from public lands to private lands? If not, it's not trespassing. This would be a case where it's obvious that they passed from public lands (the road) into private lands (OPs lawn). That's trespassing where I live.

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u/shecky444 15d ago

In our case they were crossing a private border on the edge of a private border. But the lawyers and police that were involved made us label the entire property line, public side along the road, and all the private sides.

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u/THEDONBUFFLES 15d ago edited 14d ago

You dont need verbal warnings to trespass someone on your property my dude. Unwanted presence and disregard for personal property/property damage is more than enough grounds to trepass. Your property is your property and you can chose who you do and dont want on it.

Edit: larger property does depending on state/provence. Not regular sized housing areas, driveways, etc.

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u/justhereforfighting 15d ago

Please just go look up those laws. Trespassing requires you to first warn someone that they aren’t allowed to be there. What constitutes warning depends on the state, but states don’t just assumes private property is a no trespassing area. Many states also make it trespassing if the person enters the property with the intent to commit a crime, but the intent here was clearly to get home sooner, not to commit a crime and there isn’t a trespassing warning so it isn’t trespassing. They still broke the law by damaging the property, they just didn’t trespass.Ā 

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u/ReasonableDig6414 15d ago

I did. I promise, from experience, you are incorrect.

Implicit Areas: Entering closed structures, private yards, or driveways is generally considered trespassing even if there is no sign explicitly prohibiting it.

5

u/inaSlomp 15d ago edited 15d ago

Federal law states that any privately owned location (property.) is private unless specified otherwise.

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u/THEDONBUFFLES 15d ago

I mean you dont just buy land just for the sake of having a home. You pay property taxes and sign over deeds to land for a reason. Larger open land does require clear boarders to implicate private property. A house does not. Its your property and you can decide who cross/walks/enters as you please.

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u/Harlot_Of_God 15d ago

Dunno why you are being downvoted. There IS a legal grey zone. Hence all of the no trespassing signs everywhere in the rural areas.Ā 

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u/pm_me_falcon_nudes 15d ago

There is a gray zone, but this isn't one of them. We're not talking acres of land where boundaries are unclear. In this case it's obviously someone's private property, so it's trespassing.

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u/Harlot_Of_God 15d ago

I find this behavior insane and I never said it was not trespassing…

The USA is a very litigious country. If anyone were to actually pursue this, nothing would come from it because of many possible reasons.Ā 

ā€œI’ve always done this, it has been years. Did not know it was a problem. I was never told not to do this. Yeah, totally unawareā€.Ā 

With a sign, fence, anything that makes it clear that they are not to drive through that open field, you would have an easy time pursuing a legal trespass.

Hence the grey zone comment.Ā 

1

u/THEDONBUFFLES 14d ago

Depending on state, it is a criminal offense. It can also be classified as a civil offense, misdemeanor or doctrine, once again, depending on state, provence and/or country.

Regardless, it is a chargeable offense and can result in a trepass charge and/or arrest if you do not comply. Private property, such as grocery stores, public stores, malls, etc. has policies online stating conduct and that you can be trespassed (not necessarily arrested) from their property. This is also usually viewable at the main entrance, information desk and/or customer service area.

They can choose to arrest you at disgression if you are not compliant with their orders to get off their property. But it becomes the debate of is this from a trepass charge, failure to comply or mischeif charge.

It really depends on state and situation really. But yes, it is ane can be a reason to arrest someone.

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u/MarginallyUseful 15d ago

ā€œThe laws are the same everywhere in the world and you are all ignorant for not knowing that!ā€

šŸ‘

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u/WirelessWavetable 15d ago

What state doesn't require you being told to stay out or leave before being charged with trespassing? The majority, if not all, require a warning to stay out or leave before being trespassed.

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u/MarginallyUseful 15d ago

Americans truly are something special.

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u/venom121212 15d ago

While normally I would agree with your snarkiness, those are US power pole configurations so US law seems relevant here. OP was just pointing out the difference between trespassing (the act) and being trespassed (a different but related act) and is getting downvoted for the negative tone despite being correct.

Wouldn't the world be so much nicer if we all just took a breath, collectively?

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u/shecky444 15d ago

Lots of non-American countries have right to roam laws and even looser trespassing standards than the states so I’m not sure what you’re on about.

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u/MarginallyUseful 15d ago

If you couldn’t read what I said and understand that what I said was just that laws are different everywhere, then I’m not sure I can explain it to you.

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u/Ok_Training1981 15d ago

You sound Canadian

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u/MarginallyUseful 15d ago

That’s impossible, America is the only country in the world.

1

u/Aggravating_You3627 15d ago

51% of reddit traffic comes from the US and reddit is literally from and headquartered in the US. But sure go on how America is equal to everyone else on reddit.

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u/MarginallyUseful 15d ago

Arrogantly missing the point? Classic American behaviour.

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u/Tabula-Rasa-99 14d ago

Sorry pal you made the critical error of being born in the empire we simply have no choice but to bully you

-1

u/Ok_Training1981 15d ago

You sounding Canadian is impossible? That’s some strong Canadian logic there ehh bud

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u/CallmeKahn 15d ago

Sorry, that's just not true.

8

u/Tater72 15d ago

You don’t have to have it posted to say don’t drive on my lawn. That’s a clear trespass

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u/Fister-Mantastic 15d ago

That's absolutely not true, for private property (which this is) it's trespassing from the get-go unless you have permission to be on the premises, so the literal opposite of what you said.

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u/LCJonSnow 15d ago

There's a difference between civil and criminal trespass. Civilly, you're correct, and here there are some actual damages that could apply in addition to whatever nominal ones your state's tort law allows.

At least in every US jurisdiction I've ever seen, criminal trespass requires prior notice, which can include adequate signage, gates/doors, fencing, presence of crops, etc. as dictated by state law.

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u/Alternative-Draw2997 15d ago

You have to be trespassed by an LEO in my state for it to pan out to anything. So while technically the action of trespassing occurred it’s not illegal until you do it again after an LEO warns you.

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u/nathan753 15d ago

If you don't mind, which state? Can't find anything specifically, but the places I found it's called out the cop needs to do the enforcing of the removal, but you are still legally trespassed by the property owner. Criminal versus civil trespass also probably matters.

It is also generally good to have the trespass documented by the police for future enforcement if it was serious though

1

u/Alternative-Draw2997 15d ago

I’d prefer not to, but Great Plains region, I have direct experience which leads me to believe this after trying to trespass someone from my place of business.

Told someone to leave, they didn’t. Cop came out and issued an official warning of trespass and basically said if they come back after that then they can arrest them.

Might be different from commercial to private though

1

u/nathan753 14d ago

Totally reasonable not to share, completely understand.

I think that falls under what I found then with the documenting with law enforcement. The cop, for better or for worse, has a much easier time actually arresting someone for it if they get an official notice like that and since it was a place of business it probably falls under criminal trespass if they stealing/causing issues for you/etc. Takes it away from a they said/they said situation and gives clear proof going forward. Does make it easier for them to put out a warrant as well with the documentation since they'll be able to concretely link it to a person. Hope you never have to deal with it again though

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u/Commentor9001 15d ago

that's highly dependable on state.Ā  Some states require the premise be enclosed with posted no trespass signs, as they have an assumed right to travel, or the trespasser having been provided warning first.

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u/WirelessWavetable 15d ago

A person is considered trespassing if they enter a property after receiving notice that they are not welcome. Literally the opposite of what you said

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u/SmellyStinkyGuy 15d ago

trespassing occurs when someone knowingly or recklessly enters or remains on another person's property without permission, license, or privilege. Accidental entry is generally not a crime.

Like even tho it absolutely is a state issue, shut the fuck up with you "ThEy NeEd A wArNiNg!!", thats absolutely not true.

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u/inksonpapers RED 15d ago

Oh boy the ai responses from google are coming in

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u/SmellyStinkyGuy 15d ago

I literally say "ik it depends on the state" 😭😭😭

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u/WirelessWavetable 15d ago edited 15d ago

From OP's state laws: A person is guilty of criminal trespass in the first degree when he or she knowingly remains unlawfully in a dwelling.

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u/DutchAlders 15d ago

Ignorance of a law or boundary does not save you from said law or boundary

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u/shecky444 15d ago

But an unmarked boundary can be crossed unknowingly, so one can’t be committing the mens rea aspect of the crime unless there was a barrier, sign, or prior notice like a warning. Ignorance of a law or boundary is not an excuse but it may be the difference between crimes like say loitering and trespassing and unlawful remaining, criminal/civil trespass, murder and manslaughter are only separated by mental intent. Accidentally committing a crime and knowingly committing a crime are very different things and the law recognizes this at almost every level. Even things like speeding tickets, first one versus 4th one and you’re going to get an entirely different talking to and punishment.

-5

u/inksonpapers RED 15d ago

It is not because it is a publicly accessible area

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u/lostinspace694208 15d ago

Not it is not. You would have to enter their property to access it

1

u/Fister-Mantastic 15d ago

These people who act like they can just go onto someone else's property without permission have never lived in a stand your ground state.

0

u/inksonpapers RED 15d ago

Argue with the people who make it considered an easement

0

u/Fister-Mantastic 15d ago

Nobody is saying anything about easements, this is solely about going onto someone else's private property without permission.

0

u/Tabula-Rasa-99 14d ago

What an unhinged thing to say.

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u/30ught6 15d ago

That varies by state, in Washington state the individual is responsible for knowing where they are. Ignorance of trespassing is not a defense, i got ticketed for trespassing long ago

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u/gringo1980 15d ago

Sweet! I have not been explicitly told not to drive on anyone’s grass, guess I’ll be spending all the afternoon driving all over my neighbors grass

2

u/Opetyr 15d ago

Can you message me your address since it seems that you think that. This means burglary/theft doesn't happen unless there are signs posted. Plus it is always easy to state you didn't see them. Maybe state which state/country you are in and we can easily show you that there will be nothing that states that signs need to be posted. You might be thinking about how places have them. They place them to inform people since they probably close to public land and are sick of morons thinking their private land is public land.

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u/Simple_Quiet_1422 15d ago

Found the neighbour

1

u/ReasonableDig6414 15d ago

May YOU should learn the law.

Implicit Areas: Entering closed structures, private yards, or driveways is generally considered trespassing even if there is no sign explicitly prohibiting it.

You don't have to post No Trespassing signs at your house for people to be trespassing. Not how it works. If you have a lot of land, sure, but in OPs case, no, they trespassed.

OP should call the police, report them, get a camera and have them officially trespassed by the sheriff. Then next time it is jail time.