Trespassing

[Power Tech]

I live in California and my power company is PG&E.

I have a prescription to grow and have about 15 plants in my backyard.

I know the power company can come and meter read, but without notice or even a knock on the front door?

This a guy taps twice and comes right threw my backyard gate, (freaking my wife out), and through another gate, to inspect and document the vegetation growing around the poles.

Walking around among my plants and tomatoes and on my asparagus patch, like he is at home in MY backyard with some kind of UPS kinda calculator punching stuff in.

Their pole is not even in my backyard. No door tag notice, nothing.

Anyone know Trespassing rights?

He had a PG&E badge and I did get his name, but he had a private contractor truck.

They do use private contractors to maintain vegetation clearance.

My opinion: A bullshit invasion of privacy. My gate is locked now.

Thanks everyone! Freedom to all!

 

[vta]

Another reason I love my dogs.

Wish I had an answer for ya. I know that with utility co's, you agree to a service contract when you decide to purchase their product. Also most like services, mail, gas co, soft water etc..., are seen as not having malicious intent...they are there for a reason. Normal trespassing is someone with no business being there.

 

[vta]

oh hey...welcome to IC

 

[Strainhunter]

Regarding the trespassing you could get a dog or at least put up a dog warning sign.
That way he won't risk entering again w/o you or your wife being present.

 

[bubblebert]

This would definitely keep em out, hehe. An actual dog or locking the fence would probably do the trick, too, but my buddy was sayin if you put a sign on the fence saying "for access for please call...." they aren't legally allowed to enter. Don't know how true this is but it couldn't hurt.

 

[Power Tech]

Thanks for the replies.

I will be getting some signs and locks and more fences.

What if my wife was sunbathing nude?

IMO he did not even need to come in, the house next door, with the pole, is wide open. The house behind is vacant.

I would like to barge in his gate today with no notice and see how he would respond. -- What an inconsiderate jerk.

If I get raided I will sue them.

I do need a dog.

 

[areUkind]

where are you located? colorado's got a "make my day law" but not sure if that's what you're looking for!

 

[Tr33]

where are you located? colorado's got a "make my day law" but not sure if that's what you're looking for!

Utility Company's have the rights to enter yards as needed, you made a contract to ths effect when buying their power.

The CO "Make My Day" law only applies to a intruder entering your home, with a WEAPON in hand. You can not shoot someone for coming on your prop in CO, this is not TX.
You better learn CO law before you even try to use the "Make My Day" defense.
If an intruder does not have a weapon and they come in your home and you shoot them you are inbig trouble.
Better get some gloves on and try and fake a weapons placement on the perp. not easily done. Think it out.

 

[Phedrosbenny]

Just make sure all your gates are locked.That should do it.

 

[Kalicokitty]

Regarding the trespassing you could get a dog or at least put up a dog warning sign.
That way he won't risk entering again w/o you or your wife being present.

The sign and matching dog will do the trick.
I have a Pit that looks just like that, lol, no one comes in my yard, most people don't even walk close to it anymore.

I've had people ask me.
You think that dog could jump that fence?
I tell them the truth, yes, if he really wanted too.

 

[Strainhunter]

The sign and matching dog will do the trick.
I have a Pit that looks just like that, lol, no one comes in my yard, most people don't even walk close to it anymore.

.......

The thing is the sign always does the trick, the dog(s) only if they won't get poisoned.

Sad but true.

 

[pearlemae]

I have a beware of dog sign at eye level on the gate. Fortunately the meter is just on the outside of the gate, But no one will open my gate as the dogs are large and loud for a reason. Better than ADT.

 

[White-rhino]

Thanks for the replies.

I will be getting some signs and locks and more fences.

What if my wife was sunbathing nude?

IMO he did not even need to come in, the house next door, with the pole, is wide open. The house behind is vacant.

I would like to barge in his gate today with no notice and see how he would respond. -- What an inconsiderate jerk.

If I get raided I will sue them.

I do need a dog.

Tresspassing only happens after they are told to leave, or stay out. Someone walking onto the property isn't tresspassing just by that act itself.

Put up a sign that says No Tresspassing. If he comes back tell him in person. Then if he comes back, call the police.

I've studied up on it in the past because of problems with tresspassing. Locked fence and sign would be considered sufficient notice. Regular sign, not that dog sign above, although both will work, and I'd let them know there's a vicious dog, one is required to notify people to stay out.

And then there's this

Trespassing is a legal term that can refer to a wide variety of offenses against a person or against property. Trespassing as it relates to real estate law means entering onto land without consent of the landowner. There are both criminal and civil trespass laws. Criminal trespass law is enforced by police, sheriffs, or park rangers. Civil trespass requires that the landowner initiate a private enforcement action in court to collect any damages for which the trespasser may be responsible, regardless of whether a crime has been committed. Traditionally, for either type of trespass, some level of intent is required. Thus, the trespasser must not simply unwittingly traverse another’s land but must knowingly go onto the property without permission. Knowledge may be inferred when the owner tells the trespasser not to go on the land, when the land is fenced, or when a “no trespassing” sign in posted. A trespasser would probably not be prosecuted if the land was open, the trespasser’s conduct did not substantially interfere with the owner’s use of the property, and the trespasser left immediately on request.
http://realestate.uslegal.com/trespass/

 

[resinryder]

Power company is allowed unrestricted access to their meter. Nothing you can do about that. Even if you call in and get premission to call in the reading yourself, as I've done in the past due to having Rottweilers, there will come a time when they will need to come in a verify the readings. They do not have the right to walk up and down or all over your garden. They do have a right to inspect the area around their pole. I can't remember the diameter measurements around the pole for their right of way. Just in case they have to come in and replace the pole or preform maintenance.
I'm a med patient also. Some years ago I had some plants outside. The meter reader had to come in the backyard through the gate to access the meter. During one visit he notices the plants, called his supervisor who called the cops. I met them at the driveway, med card in hand and no problems. I hate a fukn do gooder.
You can call the power company and tell them to tell their subcontractor to stay the hell out of your garden as that has no direct link to him doing his job. And that you do not appreciate him trampling all over your asparagus patch.
As far as your wife sunbathing nude, there is a place on your power bill that says what day the next reading will be taken.

 

[Strainhunter]

Power company is allowed unrestricted access to their meter. Nothing you can do about that.

.......

I politely disagree.

There are two ways for them to do this:

Either by using common courtesy and in compliance with the home owner.

Or being the way the guy you and OP described.

In the last case they forfeit the right to fair play.

At my place they can read the meter when they want but not without me.
Then again what am I talking about, I am on a full scale smart meter anyway.
I'd be doomed if I were growing.

 

[White-rhino]

The meter reader at my house stands outside the property, about 100 feet from the meter and checks it with some kind of a handheld telescope device. Seen him out there and wondered wht the hell was going on. Guy standing there looking at my house with a telescope! Thats when I went out there and found out.

They used to come into the back yard, until we got the Pit Bull, to add to our other 3 dogs.

 

[SOTF420]

FUCK smart meters, they are the spawn of satan himself.

Gates should always be locked btw to keep people the fk out! I don't agree with the dude being all up in your shit but if you have an unlocked gate what do you expect man?

 

[Power Tech]

Power company is allowed unrestricted access to their meter. Nothing you can do about that. Even if you call in and get premission to call in the reading yourself, as I've done in the past due to having Rottweilers, there will come a time when they will need to come in a verify the readings. They do not have the right to walk up and down or all over your garden. They do have a right to inspect the area around their pole. I can't remember the diameter measurements around the pole for their right of way. Just in case they have to come in and replace the pole or preform maintenance.
I'm a med patient also. Some years ago I had some plants outside. The meter reader had to come in the backyard through the gate to access the meter. During one visit he notices the plants, called his supervisor who called the cops. I met them at the driveway, med card in hand and no problems. I hate a fukn do gooder.
You can call the power company and tell them to tell their subcontractor to stay the hell out of your garden as that has no direct link to him doing his job. And that you do not appreciate him trampling all over your asparagus patch.
As far as your wife sunbathing nude, there is a place on your power bill that says what day the next reading will be taken.

The meter is on the side on of the house in front. The pole is physically on the neighbors lot.

In the past they have came by and made me sign a paper saying I would not plant a tree that could grow over 30', and gave me a list. Must be a new contractor or they changed contractors. He walked the full length commenting on a tree 60' away from the pole saying, that tree could get in the lines someday.

I wrote an email to NORMAL for advice.

I hate PG&E. They have to be one of the shittiest power companies in the country. My power has went off over 150 times this year. over 500 events on one commercial well I service, under voltage, phase imbalance, phase loss.

 

[Power Tech]

FUCK smart meters, they are the spawn of satan himself.

Gates should always be locked btw to keep people the fk out! I don't agree with the dude being all up in your shit but if you have an unlocked gate what do you expect man?

From now on they will be locked.

I agree with the satan thing.

It's like chipping my house.

We have smart meters but they must not be smart enough because they are going to change them again. Right after the class action lawsuit.

Oh, like you car, or the soon to come human chip,,, if for some reason they want to turn you off, there is a switch that can disable you, your car, or your power remotely.

 

[Agent SmokeAlot]

Regarding the trespassing you could get a dog or at least put up a dog warning sign.
That way he won't risk entering again w/o you or your wife being present.

The sign and matching dog will do the trick.
I have a Pit that looks just like that, lol, no one comes in my yard, most people don't even walk close to it anymore.

I've had people ask me.
You think that dog could jump that fence?
I tell them the truth, yes, if he really wanted too.

LOL mine looks exactly like that also and people ask the exact same questions and I give that exact answer. I love my Dog.