What Is a Trespassing Citation?
Trespassing is one of the most misunderstood laws. Knowing your rights and the particulars of the law can only help.
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Definition
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You are trespassing if you go on someone's property without their permission. Trespassing is the unlawful intrusion onto another person's legal property. One becomes liable for trespassing by knowingly entering the specified property without the consent of the property owner.
Citation
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A trespassing citation may be issued either when the property owner locates someone on his property and calls the authorities to report on that person, or when an officer on patrol finds a person intruding on a property that is clearly marked with signs identifying it as private.
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Trespassing Without Entering
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Dumping on someone else's property is also considered trespassing. It's possible to get a trespassing citation without physically entering someone's property. Dumping garbage, throwing an object or even dropping a single piece of litter can land someone a citation.
Overstaying One's Welcome
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You can also be cited for trespassing by staying in a location past its closing time or by remaining in a private home after the host has asked you to leave.
Consequences
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Community service may be required for those who are cited. Trespassing is a misdemeanor, and most of the time there is no jail time involved. Felony trespassing charges can be filed, however, and in those cases jail time may be required (or time in a juvenile detention facility if the person cited is a minor). The person cited may also have to do some community service as a punishment.
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References
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Scott Davidson Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Rick Audet Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Casey Serin Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Justin Henry
