Originally Posted By: LubeLuke
Maybe they ignore the signs because so many irresponsible land owners block access to public access ways, or public rights of way.
I'm not sure of the specific laws for the USA, but in many European countries, specifically the UK. There are many public rights of way that go through private property. In these cases it is the law that the land owner must make the land accessible.
I have had many cases where the supposed land owner is shouting at me for trespassing on public rights of way. I always carry maps with me which specifically show where I have the right to access though. There is nothing they can do. They have no right to lock the gate, and I have broken a number of locks to provide myself a thoroughfare.
The case is the same in many other countries where land owners think they have more rights than they actually do.
After all, all THEY do is buy the property, maintain it, and pay the taxes. If you break the lock, walk in, trip, fall and break your leg, how fast do you SUE the landowner?
Maybe they ignore the signs because so many irresponsible land owners block access to public access ways, or public rights of way.
I'm not sure of the specific laws for the USA, but in many European countries, specifically the UK. There are many public rights of way that go through private property. In these cases it is the law that the land owner must make the land accessible.
I have had many cases where the supposed land owner is shouting at me for trespassing on public rights of way. I always carry maps with me which specifically show where I have the right to access though. There is nothing they can do. They have no right to lock the gate, and I have broken a number of locks to provide myself a thoroughfare.
The case is the same in many other countries where land owners think they have more rights than they actually do.
After all, all THEY do is buy the property, maintain it, and pay the taxes. If you break the lock, walk in, trip, fall and break your leg, how fast do you SUE the landowner?