My sign on the front door reads “no solicitors,, see dog for details”.
"No Trespassing" Sign Curiousity Question.
- Thread starter Ματθιας
- Start date
DANGER-SNAKES
ALL lands here in South Carolina are considered "Posted" by law whether you have sign up or not. You have to have written permission to be on said property.
Recusant
Member
I have found that "No Trespassing" or "Posted" signs only work if you're standing behind the tree to which you attached said sign.
A chap about 30 miles north of me posted this at his driveway:
"No Trespassing. I have a S&W and a backhoe."
"No Trespassing. I have a S&W and a backhoe."
We live in a gated community, with signs at the entrance that say
NO SOLICITING. It is generally ignored. When a solicitor comes
to my door I ask them if they know how to read. If they answer yes,
I ask which part of NO SOLICITING do they not understand. I've never
seen one of them return, but still plenty of new ones.
NO SOLICITING. It is generally ignored. When a solicitor comes
to my door I ask them if they know how to read. If they answer yes,
I ask which part of NO SOLICITING do they not understand. I've never
seen one of them return, but still plenty of new ones.
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
I think the no solicitor sign carries about as much weight as the ad people place in the paper stating that they are not responsible for any debts except their own. My advice to my mom in that situation is to disconnect the doorbell. The family has keys and her friends call before coming over. I thought about getting her a welcome mat that said **** Off but my wife nixed that idea (although Mom thought it intriguing 
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I had one come to the door last month. I let her do her song and dance about the benefits of solar. When she was done, I asked her if she read English as I pointed to the No Soliciting sign.
She said, "Oh, I'm not 'soliciting'. I'm not selling my body."
I laughed at her as I shut the door.
Chik a Boom
Member
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
Worth repeating: Laws vary widely from state to state, and court rulings may provide legal precedents not readily apparent in a reading of the statutes.
Here in Colorado trespassing is pretty much a "strict liability" offense. It is the responsibility of each person to avoid entering into or remaining upon any private property without permission of the owner or person having lawful control. Fences and signs are not required for enforcement. Trespassing offenses vary considerably depending on the nature of the property (agricultural, residential, commercial, enclosed, dwelling structure, motor vehicle, etc); example: trespass on unenclosed residential property is a low-grade petty offense, on agricultural land is a misdemeanor, entering a motor vehicle may be a felony.
As a general rule the use of physical force in defense of property is prohibited, and use or display of a firearm in defense of property is likely to subject the property owner to greater penalties than the trespasser will receive.
Signs, fences, and gates are still a good idea, providing at least a presumption of intent to trespass by any who venture through such barriers.
My home is within a private HOA community. All of the streets, sidewalks, and common areas are private property. The property is completely enclosed by fencing. A sign at the ungated entrance advises "PRIVATE PROPERTY - OWNERS AND INVITED GUESTS ONLY". Anyone else who steps from the public roadway into our property is committing Third Degree Criminal Trespass (a petty offense subject to monetary fines but no jail time). We still see joggers, dog walkers, cars driving through, and an occasional salesman or solicitor. I have asked several to leave and only one has given me any argument. Cell phone cameras seem to make an impression on a lot of folks.
One annoying couple from a nearby residence liked to walk their dog and leave piles of droppings, got pretty mouthy when I objected, so I watched while they walked home, pulled county real estate records to identify them, sent a certified letter warning against any future entry to our property along with a copy of the state trespassing statute, and a photo of their dog doing his business while they watched. No further problems.
Caution is the best policy. We never know how some people will react to anything said or done. Better safe than sorry.
Here in Colorado trespassing is pretty much a "strict liability" offense. It is the responsibility of each person to avoid entering into or remaining upon any private property without permission of the owner or person having lawful control. Fences and signs are not required for enforcement. Trespassing offenses vary considerably depending on the nature of the property (agricultural, residential, commercial, enclosed, dwelling structure, motor vehicle, etc); example: trespass on unenclosed residential property is a low-grade petty offense, on agricultural land is a misdemeanor, entering a motor vehicle may be a felony.
As a general rule the use of physical force in defense of property is prohibited, and use or display of a firearm in defense of property is likely to subject the property owner to greater penalties than the trespasser will receive.
Signs, fences, and gates are still a good idea, providing at least a presumption of intent to trespass by any who venture through such barriers.
My home is within a private HOA community. All of the streets, sidewalks, and common areas are private property. The property is completely enclosed by fencing. A sign at the ungated entrance advises "PRIVATE PROPERTY - OWNERS AND INVITED GUESTS ONLY". Anyone else who steps from the public roadway into our property is committing Third Degree Criminal Trespass (a petty offense subject to monetary fines but no jail time). We still see joggers, dog walkers, cars driving through, and an occasional salesman or solicitor. I have asked several to leave and only one has given me any argument. Cell phone cameras seem to make an impression on a lot of folks.
One annoying couple from a nearby residence liked to walk their dog and leave piles of droppings, got pretty mouthy when I objected, so I watched while they walked home, pulled county real estate records to identify them, sent a certified letter warning against any future entry to our property along with a copy of the state trespassing statute, and a photo of their dog doing his business while they watched. No further problems.
Caution is the best policy. We never know how some people will react to anything said or done. Better safe than sorry.
Ματθιας;141037005 said:
I don't know where you're at so I can't speak to your state laws. In the state of Colorado they have absolutely no meaning. You are not trespassing until I ask you to leave and you refuse.
You also can't detain someone for the police and then tell the cops they were trespassing because if I'm detaining you you can't leave if you want to.
My job requires me to ask you to leave and warn you that I'm going to call the cops before actually calling. What usually happens is whoever I'm asking to leave dares me to call the police until I actually start dialing.
For security companies unless the client company has a written agreement on file with the police department to prosecute, the cops won't even come. When they do come they get out of the car, ask me specifically "Did you ask them to leave?" and as soon as I say yes they turn around and give them an e-ticket and leave.
I used to work for door-to-door sales company and my trainer told me very specifically to hit every single house I saw with a no soliciting sign on it. His rationale was the people that had no soliciting signs bad them because they didn't have the intestinal fortitude to tell the salesman to leave. He assumed anybody with one of those signs was an easy sell.
I'm not claiming to agree with him and I never saw him make a sale to somebody with a no soliciting sign on their door but that's what he told me.
I had a no soliciting sign on my door for a while and it seems like it made people knock more
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I have signs on my field perimeter that read : DANGER! PRIVATE SHOOTING RANGE. DO NOT ENTER. In 15 years I have not seen one person in my field.Before the signs they treated it like a public park.
You can take this for what it's worth but when I was doing door-to-door sales if I got attitude I gave attitude.
So if you come to the door and I start my pitch and you go off on me we're going to have a conflict. Some of the guys that I worked with were not above flatting your tires.
On the other hand if you opened the door and I began my pitch and you POLITELY declined I didn't push it too hard.
You're not intimidating me when you come out to the door screaming at me. I don't care. It's just a really good way to start a conflict it doesn't need to be started
So if you come to the door and I start my pitch and you go off on me we're going to have a conflict. Some of the guys that I worked with were not above flatting your tires.
On the other hand if you opened the door and I began my pitch and you POLITELY declined I didn't push it too hard.
You're not intimidating me when you come out to the door screaming at me. I don't care. It's just a really good way to start a conflict it doesn't need to be started
This set of facts begs a different answer than those originally offered . . .
Ματθιας;141037305 said:
Interesting how things vary by municipality.
Our Township has little crime and an excellent police department. The Township enacted a “no solicitation” registry and door to door solicitors are now required to pull a $250 permit that’s good for 90 days. They’re given an ID badge that they have to wear, they can’t approach homes on the registry and the fine for violating the ordinance is $500. The police have no qualms about issuing the citations.
The Mrs. and I have lived here for 27 years. We previously had an issue with out of State vehicles coming in and dropping off a group of teenagers selling magazine subscriptions “to pay for college”. Right... One of them walked in the unlocked front front door of a friend who happened to be a Deputy Sheriff. That didn’t go over very well! It seems to be working, because I haven’t seen these parasites in years!
Our Township has little crime and an excellent police department. The Township enacted a “no solicitation” registry and door to door solicitors are now required to pull a $250 permit that’s good for 90 days. They’re given an ID badge that they have to wear, they can’t approach homes on the registry and the fine for violating the ordinance is $500. The police have no qualms about issuing the citations.
The Mrs. and I have lived here for 27 years. We previously had an issue with out of State vehicles coming in and dropping off a group of teenagers selling magazine subscriptions “to pay for college”. Right... One of them walked in the unlocked front front door of a friend who happened to be a Deputy Sheriff. That didn’t go over very well! It seems to be working, because I haven’t seen these parasites in years!
I have though for many years signs like No Trespassing, Keep Out, Posted, No Parking are in the wrong language.
What they need to be is in Braille!
What they need to be is in Braille!
How much force even properly posted trespassing signs will have is kind of up to you local law enforcement. I put signs up because of an ex neighbor that went coo coo. My drive is a big U (sign on each end). I have had people drive in looking for an address. Evidently they did not see the sign OR the fairly large numbers by it. I doubt the sheriff would do much, without them actually doing something more than getting out and knocking on the door. Unfortunately neither failing to be observant and/or being stupid are not a crime.
But, around here even in the country side a no trespass sign on the gate means stay on the road IF the gate is open. If the gate is closed I wouldn't be as worried about the law as I would be about the property owner. Plus, if I do drive onto someones place I had best drive right to the house and have a reason to be there even if there is not a sign. It would be impolite and being impolite out in the country, while on someone else's place is NOT a good plan. If I see a coyote I can shoot it and nobody will say anything. Be impolite not to. LOL Local customs
I saw a coyote on the way in. Did you shot it? No. Why not???
My brother lives out of town about 5 miles, His gate is about 150yards from his house. He has a metal NO TRESPASSING sign on the gate post. There are several bullet holes in the sign going from his side out. LOL
But, around here even in the country side a no trespass sign on the gate means stay on the road IF the gate is open. If the gate is closed I wouldn't be as worried about the law as I would be about the property owner. Plus, if I do drive onto someones place I had best drive right to the house and have a reason to be there even if there is not a sign. It would be impolite and being impolite out in the country, while on someone else's place is NOT a good plan. If I see a coyote I can shoot it and nobody will say anything. Be impolite not to. LOL Local customs
I saw a coyote on the way in. Did you shot it? No. Why not???
My brother lives out of town about 5 miles, His gate is about 150yards from his house. He has a metal NO TRESPASSING sign on the gate post. There are several bullet holes in the sign going from his side out. LOL
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deadin
US Veteran
Sitting on the porch in a rocker with a M! Garand across your lap usually works.......
(Wonder where I got that idea???)
(Wonder where I got that idea???)
Ziggy2525
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We used to get the “magazines for college” crowd. Now it’s 16’ish year old kids with with a very large tupperware container of stale candy that are “learning life skills.”
In Nebraska, IIRC, coming in uninvited through a closed unlocked door (storm door, screen door) is considered breaking and entering. Not sure if they only use it to add charges to burglary suspects, but it’s a deal.
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