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My quick google search has not given me the answers needed, hoping someone might have a quick overview. Had a couple teenage girls blatantly trespass yesterday afternoon in pasture fields they had to open and close gates to get to. They were ultimately trying to visit my horses. Absolutely no supervision, permission or invitation to be there, and my husband caught them in the act. I suspect this is not the first time they have been back there, and I know where at least one of the girls lives.
My landlord does not want me to get the police involved and would rather "keep peace" in the neighborhood. She said she'd talk to the girl when she sees her at school once it starts.
My husband and I, OTOH, see huge liability factors for us and the property owners. Everyone can be held liable if they are injured in an attempt to visit my animals. I personally would like to address the situation directly with the parents, but I want to know exactly what the laws are so I can politely let them know that the police will be involved if it happens again.
I'm sorry, I don't know the laws, but I'm wondering if there's a different way to approach it. Absolutely, set the boundary that they cannot visit without authorization, and I do think calling the police would be warranted. At the same time, I wonder if you can schedule times that they can visit, with your supervision? So many kids today are deprived of relating to nature on any level, I can understand their desire to see the horses. Not to mention, the draw toward horses that some girls have so strongly. It may be, once they've visited with you several times, you'll get to know them enough to trust that they'll be responsible. (Or, you'll learn otherwise... )
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
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How about posting no trespassing signs? That sends a very clear message. I would think that that would work for your landlord, since some people have a rather interesting concept on the matter that is cleared up when they see the sign. If they continue to trespass, it's much easier to call the police & get something done.
While I sympathize with allowing young people to have access to horses / nature, etc, that is not an option on this situation. I don't have time, and truly this is a bad time in my life, not to mention the liability should something happen even under my supervision. There is a nice boarding/lessons stable within miles, and Latta Plantation is literally 5 miles away - both of which offer hands on horse experience commercially. She has other options.
The property is posted, but not extremely visible. That will change this evening and no trespassing will be very visible.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,814 posts, read 34,678,989 times
Reputation: 10256
Quote:
Originally Posted by chance2jump
While I sympathize with allowing young people to have access to horses / nature, etc, that is not an option on this situation. I don't have time, and truly this is a bad time in my life, not to mention the liability should something happen even under my supervision. There is a nice boarding/lessons stable within miles, and Latta Plantation is literally 5 miles away - both of which offer hands on horse experience commercially. She has other options.
The property is posted, but not extremely visible. That will change this evening and no trespassing will be very visible.
I have a similar but different situation. My property was vacant before I bought it & several adults think that it's just fine to wander around in my yard picking poke, in season. The city property behind me is loaded with it. One actually complained that she fell while climbing over my fence to get the poke on the city land. I informed her that she could have walked around it, so she realized that her dreams of a lawsuit didn't hold water. I caught one the other day about to pick the figs on the fig tree.
I put a no trespassing sign in one location but will be posting another between the fig tree & the garden.
My quick google search has not given me the answers needed, hoping someone might have a quick overview. Had a couple teenage girls blatantly trespass yesterday afternoon in pasture fields they had to open and close gates to get to. They were ultimately trying to visit my horses. Absolutely no supervision, permission or invitation to be there, and my husband caught them in the act. I suspect this is not the first time they have been back there, and I know where at least one of the girls lives.
My landlord does not want me to get the police involved and would rather "keep peace" in the neighborhood. She said she'd talk to the girl when she sees her at school once it starts.
My husband and I, OTOH, see huge liability factors for us and the property owners. Everyone can be held liable if they are injured in an attempt to visit my animals. I personally would like to address the situation directly with the parents, but I want to know exactly what the laws are so I can politely let them know that the police will be involved if it happens again.
Based on my experience, you must have a "No tresspassing" sign posted. That only gives you the right to have someone arrested for tresspassing. It in no way elliminates you from liability even if trespassing occurs. The land owner will be liable for any injury, but either of you can press charges for trespassing, but you must be able to prove it or catch them in the act.
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