No Trespassing...

[Locut0s]

Something I've noticed when I visit the US, currently in Hawaii on vacation, is the number of No Trespassing signs on peoples' properties. This is out in more rural areas of course. It's not like I don't see them back home in Canada but no where to the extent I see them here in the US. Is this just me or have others here noticed this as well? Everyone has the right to privacy and to protect their property but I guess I feel it creates an unwelcoming feeling. Again maybe it's just me blowing things out of proportion because I'm on vacation noticing something that isn't really there?

[JackintheGreen]

1. Woody Guthrie said it best

As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there
And that sign said - no tress passin'
But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!

[liberal_at_heart]

2. they're meant to create an unwelcome feeling. Most Americans can't stand to have other people

on their yard or ringing their doorbell. They're afraid people will mess up the lawn they spent thousands of dollars on or of being inconvienced by someone ringing their doorbell. I live in the Pacific North West, and some people up here don't even like deer because they're afraid they will eat their precious roses. I myself love it when deer are in my yard, and don't care if someone walks through my yard or rings my doorbell. If it is a salesman or a religious person handing out leaflets, I just politely tell them I'm not interested and tell them to have a good day.

[Pelican]

12. I would much prefer deer to people...

They are usually much better behaved.

[defacto7]

3. Nope, You have it right!

For the most part it's a legal thing. If your land is not posted, you really have no right to protect it from anyone who wants to cross it and if they get hurt while on it... they will probably be the new owners. It's one of the many unfortunate system things in the US that makes our lives the property of lawyers and those who would take advantage.

Sure there are those who want you to "STAY OUT!" But for the most part is fear of legal actions.

[Egalitarian Thug]

4. The first time I visited your country the biggest difference I noticed was the dearth

of public beaches. The whole coast is private property.

Coming from California, I was utterly shocked. I'm sure that somewhere there are public beaches, but they're surprisingly rare.

Every place has it's idiosyncrasies and submissions to the parasites that rule.

[Honeycombe8]

16. Canada's beaches are private? Wow. Talk about capitalism gone extreme.

Do they have national parks for the public to enjoy, or is all that privatized, too?

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. Git off'n mah propertay! n/t

[HiPointDem]

6. you're blowing it out of proportion. if you don't post your property you're liable for whatever

any trespasser does on it.

[Buns_of_Fire]

7. I have no problem with anyone who crosses the yard or rings my doorbell.

I figure if they made it over the two nine-foot chain-link fences topped with razor wire, across the alligator-filled moat, through the unmarked minefield, and past the rabid wolverines, they've earned it.

[Riftaxe]

8. It is easy to explain, people from urban areas

treat any land they not paying rent on like shit.

[YeahSureRight]

9. I have No Trespassing and No Hunting signs on my property

For 2 reasons, I don’t want to be bothered and I find hunting morally reprehensible.

At first I had no signs then the fundies came a knocking so up went the No Trespassing Signs then just before hunting season the murders were coming to my house, IGNORING the No Trespassing signs to ask permission to hunt on my land. So up went the no Hunting Signs.

The signs are needed because many in this country have no respect at all for other people’s rights or property and will only respect it under the threat of arrest or violence.

[Riftaxe]

10. People can boat, fish, swim or hike on my property

They can hunt as well as long as they ask for any of the above, and yes I do write down auto tags.

Most people would be amazed that if they bothered asking about the signs they are probably not the ones I meant to weed out from the sociopaths who don't bother asking.

Locals are exempt of course, the signs are there to save me a bit of bother from assholes in general.

A family looking for a camping spot next to the river is always welcome., if they hauling 6 ATVs....they can move on.

[YeahSureRight]

11. The person who owns the land next to me allows ATV's and hunting

ATV noise gets old fast just like the noise the bikers make when they take their scenic mass rides and runs through the county.

Who doesn't enjoy the sound of 50 bikers en mass on loud assed bikes riding through the country side spewing pollution everywhere!

[Laelth]

13. Trespassing is both a tort and a crime.

Anyone can enforce the tort of trespass to land by hiring (and paying) an attorney to file the case and sue the trespasser for civil damages, i.e. money. But what if the trespasser is broke and judgment-proof? What good would that do?

I am not sure about Hawaii, but here in Georgia, trespassing is only a crime if and when the landowner has a "no trespassing" sign posted. Now, to prosecute a crime, you don't have to hire an attorney. The state picks up both the cost of the investigation (police) and the cost of prosecution (the District Attorney), and a criminal court can not only get some justice for you (by fining or imprisoning the trespasser), it can also compel the trespasser to make restitution.

As such, it's much smarter to insure that any trespass to land is a crime. One does that by posting a "no trespassing" sign (in some jurisdictions, in any event). That's the best guess I have as to why you might see so many such signs in Hawaii.



-Laelth

[alphafemale]

14. In my experience. Hose No Trespassing signs seem to be most prevalent on the most ramshackle places.

Feed your dog. Meth head asshole.

[Honeycombe8]

15. I don't see "no trespassing" signs on people's lawns. Where are you seeing those? I see them

on public property, sometimes, like "stay off the grass." But even that's rare.

[Dash87]

17. It's probably because of lawsuit abuse.

It probably has nothing to do with trying to hoard property but more to do with trying to prevent people from getting hurt on their property and suing them. It's an extra level of legal protection.