Re: Overheard on the scanner

On May 8, 7:21=A0pm, Douglas Berry <penguin_...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
wrote:
> On =A07 May 2008 22:49:44 -0400 "Keith F. Lynch" <k...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> carved the following into the hard stone of rec.arts.sf.fandom
>
> >And we weren't talking about trespassing anyway, but about crossing
> >property that you have no reason to think the owner objects to
> >your crossing.
>
> Walking onto another person's property is trespassing.

In the strict definition, sometimes. There are people who are allowed
to enter your property: 'invitees' - guests, meter readers, etc.
Others
are able to enter without permission 'licensees' - a cop serving a
valid warrant, a fireman putting out a fire, etc.

You live in San Jose, I gather, a heavily built up area. I don't
think anyone has a problem with you keeping
uninvited, unlicensed people out, signs or not. I don't have a
particular problem with you carrying a firearm when persuading people
to leave, but 'self-help' is generally inapplicable outside of a
house,
and you *could* find yourself in a lot of legal trouble if you point
it
at someone. I suggest you consult a lawyer on this.

Things get a lot fuzzier when you're outside built-up areas. When
'private property' extends to wild areas far from a house, the owner
may have to post signs etc to legally prevent strangers passing
through.

This notion of absolute property rights over land is hardly universal.
I suggest you take a look at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_of_public_access_to_the_wilderness
to see how it is handled in other countries, the Nordic countries in
particular.

pt