[Blessings2You]

My gripe of the day: why do people think that if land doesn't surround a house and isn't contained inside a white picket fence, it doesn't BELONG to anybody??

We own a small piece of land (I mean small, like 1/3 acre) across the road, and we've had people tromp over things we had planted, steal our apples, cut a path to the river, etc. "Oh, I didn't know it belonged to anybody!"

Most people couldn't care less if somebody picks some lilacs at an old house site or has a picnic in their pasture. But people chop down Christmas trees, dig up plants, pick berries. Do people REALLY think there is property that nobody owns?

[wkikta]

People have always been this way, but it is significantly worse with the 'Modern Generations' of 'ME' people. Unfortunately it is illegal to Shoot them.

Just kidding.

[Erin524]

Put up signs that warn of poison ivy or poison oak. (or actually plant poison ivy and poison oak and dont warn them it's there)

Even if you put up "private property" signs, there's always going to be people who think that the signs dont apply to them. The signs are just for other people, not them.

[Kitty]

I'd put up some signs (No Trespassing or Private Property). Or maybe make a sign that asks people to please not pick the fruit or cut down anything. Usually once people see a sign that someone has taken the time to make and put up they'll go away. If you catch someone ignoring the sign and taking apples, tromping on plants or cutting down a tree call the police.

[Jomar]

I agree, I'd at least try some no trespassing or Private property signs, and see if that helps.. if not then call police when someone is on the property, but at least the signs would be there for the police to act on.
I think if a sign isn't posted , it is less likely the police can follow it up.

But yes, a lot of people don't get taught to respect others property, public or private.

[ANNagain]

I like Erin's suggestion. I think that would work.

ANN

[Blessings2You]

Probably we don't need to go the whole legal route--where we live, you have to have signs every so many feet, on all property lines, register with the town clerk, etc. in order to post your land. There isn't anything of real value over there, just irritating that people think it's public property.

Over the years (41) a few folks have actually asked permission to access the river on our property, and we said, "Yes, of course!" I actually like to watch the neighbor's son and his little sister fishing down there. He's 15, and he takes his little sister fishing, how cute is that?

I think maybe we'll start with a small sign just down the slope a little, so it isn't visible from the road, but if somebody starts down the path, it will be seen. Probably just "private property".

It's just a pet peeve. I watch them and I wonder what they'd do if I drove up in front of their house and sat on their lawn or front steps? "Oh, I didn't know it belonged to anybody".

[kicker]

B2y
We're on a third of an acre, next to a county forest. We're in the old farm house, a developer bought everything else and 3 houses went on private road from us on the old fields. We got lots of "Looky Lous" who thought our drive existed for them to turn in. I took to sitting on a porch rocker with a toy rifle that looked real, me looking cranky. The look in faces as they spun around and zoomed away was priceless.

[Dejibo]

our neighborhood was cut thru the land that used to lead to the summer camps and water front cottages. The old dirt road that used to lead there for the last 100 years has been left in place. My property is cut into one small square, next to one rectangle, next to one large rectangle. The old dirt road cuts thru the corner of my big rectangle. we have a couple of acres so we didnt care much about it when we bought the house. Let the games begin!

Part of the right of way cut right thru the center of our property! We closed it! the town folks had torches and pitch forks. Screaming about how the town has used that property for 100 years and we cant cut it off now! We pointed out that we left a trail that leads to the PAVED road. Would they not rather use the nice paved road? This trail is full of briars that scratch your car, rocks to bang the bottom of your car and pull off your muffler, and its impassible once it snows. Please! use the paved road! 2 folks whos family have cottages way off in the woods refused to sign off on the right of way leaving, so according to town law, it must stay. I have been to town hall, the selectmans meeting, and so forth. All say the same thing. Whats it harming?!

We have folks zip by doing 50 dragging off their mufflers and throwing their mctrash out in our yard. We have it posted, we have put up even more briar bushes, had my son dig a trench so it bottoms out if you zip by (a reverse speed bump) and yet each year we seem to attract more folks to use it! In the winter the man who plows behind our house to get to the fire plug couldnt find a spot to put all the snow. We gave him permission to dump it in the right of way. There is this HUGE hump of snow blocking the road and each year 50 folks call the town hall to ask them to unblock the road.

Since they have used this road all their lives they have NO desire to give it up. Even if it means using the new paved road. It doesnt have anything special on it but dangers, and ruts, and yet you would think it was paved with gold. This may be the year I hire a lawyer to close it. im tired of picking up cig ends, trash, baby diapers (who throws them out the window?) mufflers, oil leaks next to my garden and this doesnt even count the destruction they do to the sides of the road.

So, I can sympathize. No tresspassing doesnt work. Folks show up in droves and pick my berry bushes clean. They help themselves to my FENCED IN garden! They set up beach chairs and blankets and radios next to my fence that over looks the lake. They shoot off fireworks from my bare patch. REDNECKS! can you tell this is a trigger issue for me?

[SallyC]

My DH was a Singwriter, in his former life and made a sign, for a friend, to go on his property....

"No Trespassing-
Survivors Will Be Prosecuted".