Laws on right of way?

Question

Hi I am just checking up on the law of right of way, because in my case the game keeper said to me this morning that I cannot walk my dogs round the field Margins that Surround the fields, I have always done this and lots of other people who live on the farm also do this. The fields around are owned by a local rich man, do they have a right to ban dog walkers and normal walkers of their land if so, what is the point, no one is doing any harm.

Bruce · Accepted Answer

If they own the land, they can ban anyone from walking there. They don't even need a reason. My guess is he is sick of people not picking up after their dogs.

ornery and mean · Answer

Yes, the property owner can keep anyone, or for that matter EVERYONE off his land legally.

Sometimes fields are closed because of damage ... the property owner just gets tired of going out and repairing the damage done by thoughtless people.  Picking up garbage (and in this case, maybe dog waste), etc. is time consuming!  Not picking up the trash might mean that the trash gets stuck in the land owner's equipment, damaging field working equipment that could be worth thousands of dollars.

A simpler explanation is liability issues ... The land owner allows people to walk through his fields.  Someone steps in a chuck hole and breaks their leg.  Now the land owner has a lawsuit for damages to deal with!  Even if the land owner wins the lawsuit ... he pays for legal representation, and is court when he could be working the land he owns.

Bottom line ... if the owner of the land says stay out ... not staying out could get you charged with trespassing

? · Answer

if its his property, he has a right to keep you off of it. if its an area surrounding his property, he doesn't.
the point is it's his land. whether your doing any harm to it or not is irrelevant. would you want all your
neighbors to come walk their dogs in your front yard.

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Laws on right of way?

3 Answers