Has anybody ever been caught "rootin" or muddin on private property such as construction power lines? If so whats happened? Cause I went today and my truck(2wd...lol) ranger we were goin along fine and all of a sudden the ground sunk and we got stuck, and the construction people pulled us out(willingly) and we got unstuck then a guy who throws down seed took down my license plate # but said he just keeps record of who comes through cause people come at night a tear it up, but he said he wouldn't call the cops unless I came back again. Should I be worried or not?

 

and we got unstuck then a guy who throws down seed took down my license plate # but said he just keeps record of who comes through cause people come at night a tear it up, but he said he wouldn't call the cops unless I came back again.

Probably not, but I highlighted the key phrase. If they were seeding the area, they probably didn't want folks driving through it.

 

I didnt think power lines were private.

 

I believe they are- here in Orygun they are, at any rate (private utility or BPA)

 

Here in Merlun they are too.

Pepco, BG&E, etc.


Zzzzzzaaaaaaapppppppp!!!!!!

Edit: The Sportsman's Club that I belong to had to get a written agreement with the power company for us to use the 'Right of Way' that it owns, to gain access to our rifle range.
We also have 'authority' to file complaints / prosecute trespassers on that portion of the power lines.

 

we use to go mudding ALL the time by a set of power lines going through some woods that were really muddy, swampy, lots of hills, basically the best place EVER in my book! BUT the more people who found out about it, the more reckless they got and it sort of ruined it for all of us. we'd stay on the trails, other people didnt. so, before we knew it the police were getting called in.

the power company OWNED the area, and they loosely enforced the tresspassing laws. im not sure if all areas by power lines are owned by the companies or not, but i wouldnt suggest going back there. we also use to go muddin on some state owned property, owned by the U. of M. which was about 8,000 acres behind the Rosemount technical college. the trails were often patrolled, and also used by the National Guard for training excersizes. i never got caught muddin there myself, came pretty close though, but one of my friends had a Military Humvee pull up and block off his truck, a bunch of NG guys got out, wrote down his plate #, told him if they caught him again it was a $700 fine.

be smart and play it safe- only go wheeling in legal areas.

 

about 8 years ago i was out with my friend in his 4x4 plymouth trailduster.....we were in an open field that had a ravine in the middle, there werent any signs anywhere and people partied there for years without hassle.....well the last time we were there his transfercase exploded trying to pull out of the muddy ravine and we had to find some people to pull us out,.......after finally getting it out and hooking up the tow chain to pull it home, we pulled out to the paved road and there were four cop cars waiting for us.....they gave all of us(12 people total) one $40 trespassing fine each , it didnt even matter that there werent any signs or anything, private property is private property no matter where you are...........

 

Powerlines are normally easements. The property may not be owned by the company, but it's their's by right. If you were to legally go about putting in a trail, and ran it under those lines, I think the only thing they would do is ask you to stay a certain distance away from the towers.

 

When I was 14, I was arrested for criminal trespassing, while riding my 3 wheeler, here in NY.
The power company Niagara Mohawk, wouldn't not drop the charges, and that began my long lasting relationship with my lawyer.

 

In general, I think the power companies have easements allowing them to run power lines and maintain them on others property. But that easement is for the power company and not the general public.

Should you be worried? I wouldn't be; can't worry about a problem until you actually have one. But don't go back there.

 

I catch a few trespassers a year... mostly during hunting season. They tend to use the excuse that they thought they thought they were on ground they had permission to be on. I take down every license number and try to get names of people I catch. If they willingly give up their name and don't show any attitude, I tend to let it slide. But, I've also had trespassers who've torn up my fields by cutting ruts, used wire cutters to make a hole in a fence so they could get their ATV's through, and once had one of my cattle shot (my neighbor gave me the description of their SUV and the sheriff caught them, so I got paid for the cow). People like that always get a call to the law.

 

In these situations a white hardhat and a clipboard go a long way. J/K

 

In most states, power lines are "right of ways" through Privately owned property. I am not talking about the power lines that run down the side of the road, but the ones that run throught the woods, etc.

 

Here if we go mudding we make damn sure not to get stuck on property where we think we might not be, but usually we try n stay away from it.

 

The safe way is to remember 2 things.
#1. If it's not your property, it belongs to someone else. All property is owned by someone. Trespassing is being on someone else's property WITHOUT PERMISSION.
#2. Unless there is a sign that says YOU MAY use the property, you have to assume it is not available for your use.
Plain and simple. Would you be upset if a bunch of dirt bikes rolled through your front yard, slinging mud and grass? Of course you would. Treat others as you expect to be treated.