Legal off roading?

[Rcknlprchn]

I live in Texas near the Fort Worth area,There is a huge empty lot not privately owned or fenced off hypothetically would it be legal to go wheeling there. I cant seem to find any laws about wheeling anywhere that apply to what im asking.

 

[trj360]

I live in Texas near the Fort Worth area,There is a huge empty lot not privately owned or fenced off hypothetically would it be legal to go wheeling there. I cant seem to find any laws about wheeling anywhere that apply to what im asking.

If it is not perfectly clear and explicitly stated that you are allowed to be there, it is most likely illegal. It doesn't matter what other people are doing, what your friend's cousin says, or anybody else but the land owner. 5,000 people may get away with wheeling there but somebody is eventually going to get caught and get their vehicle impounded.

 

[Paraphoe]

We're not the local cops or the land owner, so It's tough for us to help. When in doubt though, err on the side of caution and assume it's illegal lest you give all off-roaders a bad name and risk a trespassing ticket or worse. Like TRJ said, if there isn't a sign specifically stating you CAN, you probably cannot.

 

[Keeper0311]

Why not go to city hall and ask for a map of all with all the land plot owners. (Have a few for the areas I hunt in) you should be able to cross reference this with some Google searches. Hopefully you'll be able to find who owns the plot of land and request permission to wheel there. Keep a copy of your permission letter with you when wheeling.

I use this when hunting out in Blythe, CA (lots of farming land).

 

[apuszczalowski]

I live in Texas near the Fort Worth area,There is a huge empty lot not privately owned or fenced off hypothetically would it be legal to go wheeling there. I cant seem to find any laws about wheeling anywhere that apply to what im asking.

Unless you own it, its owned by someone else and is tresspassing if you don't have permission to be there. Even if its town/City owned land, its still not yours to use for whatever you want as you please. There are very few "legal trails" for offroading as most areas will usually allow people to bike or walk trails, but do not allow motor vehicles.

There doesn't have to be a "Law", or a fence to tell you not to go wheel somewhere, If you don't own the property or you yourself have permission directly from the owners to wheel there, its not legal

 

[Rcknlprchn]

Why not go to city hall and ask for a map of all with all the land plot owners. (Have a few for the areas I hunt in) you should be able to cross reference this with some Google searches. Hopefully you'll be able to find who owns the plot of land and request permission to wheel there. Keep a copy of your permission letter with you when wheeling.

I use this when hunting out in Blythe, CA (lots of farming land).

Thanks ill see if i can get in contact with some landowners hopefully they will let me do a little wheeling

 

[Rick]

There doesn't have to be a "Law", or a fence to tell you not to go wheel somewhere, If you don't own the property or you yourself have permission directly from the owners to wheel there, its not legal

Maybe where you live... In AZ the law says unless posted the land is open. If the gate is open when you enter, you leave it open. If the gate is closed, you enter, then close it behind you. $10,000 fine for "harassing" cattle, and besides that "This land is your land, this land is my land"....

 

[Paraphoe]

Maybe where you live... In AZ the law says unless posted the land is open. If the gate is open when you enter, you leave it open. If the gate is closed, you enter, then close it behind you. $10,000 fine for "harassing" cattle, and besides that "This land is your land, this land is my land"....

I didn't know that. That is friggin AWESOME.

 

[natd001]

Definitely check who owns it, and get permission. There is an area around here in NE that people roll their trucks through... But don't stay around for long. One particular night, I was driving through there, mud wasn't deep, but it was pretty slick (I think it was some sort of clay...) and I was in a 2wd F150. Felt I should leave, so I was gonna give her one more pass... DAMN! Put it almost right into a plot of trees. Caught a 4" branch behind the front tires, stuck'd. So here I am in the middle of the night, rain is DUMPING down, stuck truck, well, what do I see next but a b+w with the cherries on. This is going to go fantastically, I can feel it. Next thing I know, I'm in cuffs, and they're questioning what I was doing... If I would have known then what I know now, I would've just left the truck and come back for it the next day, if questioned, I would've just lied and said someone else did it. Told the cops I was "muddin", well, as it would turn out, they slapped me with a ticket with "willful reckless driving" which is automatic license suspension. Didn't get me for trespassing, but still... I think trespassing would've been a lighter charge. So just do your homework on local laws and the like.

 

[Rcknlprchn]

Maybe where you live... In AZ the law says unless posted the land is open. If the gate is open when you enter, you leave it open. If the gate is closed, you enter, then close it behind you. $10,000 fine for "harassing" cattle, and besides that "This land is your land, this land is my land"....

Wow lol im coming to AZ.

 

[Rcknlprchn]

Definitely check who owns it, and get permission. There is an area around here in NE that people roll their trucks through... But don't stay around for long. One particular night, I was driving through there, mud wasn't deep, but it was pretty slick (I think it was some sort of clay...) and I was in a 2wd F150. Felt I should leave, so I was gonna give her one more pass... DAMN! Put it almost right into a plot of trees. Caught a 4" branch behind the front tires, stuck'd. So here I am in the middle of the night, rain is DUMPING down, stuck truck, well, what do I see next but a b+w with the cherries on. This is going to go fantastically, I can feel it. Next thing I know, I'm in cuffs, and they're questioning what I was doing... If I would have known then what I know now, I would've just left the truck and come back for it the next day, if questioned, I would've just lied and said someone else did it. Told the cops I was "muddin", well, as it would turn out, they slapped me with a ticket with "willful reckless driving" which is automatic license suspension. Didn't get me for trespassing, but still... I think trespassing would've been a lighter charge. So just do your homework on local laws and the like.

Im with you I probably would of left the truck, Im really going to do my homework now before I go wheeling anywhere I would hate to have my license suspended.

 

[Keeper0311]

With my experience in asking permission to hunt on private property, generally the owners are very polite and have no issue with you using their land, especially because you have the courtesy to request permission. A few bribes help things along as well.