I promise I won't tell

[Reed]

I like to take pics of abandoned and dilapidated houses and buildings. A lot of them have no trespassing signs posted around the property. Have you ignored the signs? I don't mean climbing around and in the buildings but just walking around the property to get the best shots? Anyone been arrested?

[RichardTaylor]

I take notice of the signs.

I have never, ever, been arrested.

[BigFuzzy]

Answering your three questions: Yes. Yes. Yes.

It's nice to have diplomatic immunity and an ability to claim I don't speak the local language.

[rosserx]

A few years ago we went to Bermuda. If we would have listened to this sign at the closed down US Naval Base...


we never would of seen this really cool beach.

[daft_biker]

Originally Posted by Reed

I like to take pics of abandoned and dilapidated houses and buildings. A lot of them have no trespassing signs posted around the property. Have you ignored the signs? I don't mean climbing around and in the buildings but just walking around the property to get the best shots? Anyone been arrested?

No problem here in Scotland as we don't have a trespass law

You can still get arrested for causing damage or making a nuisance of yourself but I wouldn't expect any trouble for doing what you describe. The landowners I've met whilst out with my camera have invited me onto their land and given me tips on what things I might find to photograph. Once I even had Lady Clark ask if she could help me when she was out on her horse and I was crawling about the woods with my macro lens and tripod...I just quickly explained what I was doing and thanked her.

[OsmosisStudios]

From what I've seen, even if you do get caught in an abandoned area, as long as you aren't A) causing trouble, B) destroying things or C) somewhere VERY restricted (military compounds, government areas, police areas, etc) you'll likely just be told to go away, or to finish up quickly and go away.

[theosus]

In my state the response is kind of up to the property owner. The history of the place will also dictate the cops response.

1: an abandoned building/property has no trespassing signs around it. You go in and start taking pictures. The cops ride by and see you, and ask you what you are doing. They take your name down and run you off. No big deal.

2: same property - but the owner sees you going in (he's walking by, lives down the street, gets a call from a neighbor, etc). Owner calls the cops and has you arrested. Perfectly plausible.

3: the cops have had lots of trouble with the property, and notice from the owner to arrest anyone there. A nosy neighbor calls the police, the cops show up, and you are arrested.

In any case - trespassing is ultimately a crime against the property owner, not against the state. It is possible you could work it out with the owner before court. In any case I would retain an attorney to defend you, and maybe have the attorney send him a letter offering compensation for the trouble, explaining the situation, and expressing you meant no trouble. This is easier when the property is owned by an individual instead of a corporation. Stay away from old walmarts, grocery stores, etc. And watch what you're going into. Thieves will enter old buildings to strip fixtures, plumbing, copper wire, hardwood floors... You might find yourself hoping the cops show up.

Again, I can only give you advice based on South Carolina laws, but other states may have similar rules. Sometimes no trespassing signs are only there to help protect the owner from liability, because if you get hurt on their land or in their building, it doesnt look good if you shouldn't have been there in the first place (imagine if someone drowned at the beach the other responder posted a picture of....)

[speedymatt]

I've found that if your very transparent in your actions and aren't causing problems that most of the time you won't get hassled. so to answer the questions Yes, Yes, and No. I usually don't spend a lot of time in those areas but i make it perfectly clear through my actions what i'm doing and, without a huge setup, its obvious i don't plan to be there long.

[Gulf Coast Girl]

Originally Posted by theosus

Again, I can only give you advice based on South Carolina laws, but other states may have similar rules. Sometimes no trespassing signs are only there to help protect the owner from liability, because if you get hurt on their land or in their building, it doesnt look good if you shouldn't have been there in the first place (imagine if someone drowned at the beach the other responder posted a picture of....)

I have to tell you that the original post has me a bit irked. If it's privately owned property then you have NO BUSINESS or RIGHT to be trespassing just because "you feel like it". The post I quoted says it well.... there is a liability issue for the property owner and even with "No Trespassing" signs, someone could probably sue if they fell down and hurt themselves while snooping around where they don't belong.

If you must trespass here in the USA.... be careful what State you do it in, in my neck of the woods you might just find yourself on the business end of a firearm. My favorite No Trespassing sign says: Trespassers will be shot, survivors will be shot again.

Believe me when I tell you.... some of us don't take kindly to trespassers. If you MUST go there... why not get permission first?

[BK553]

Step one: Use common Sense
There is no step two.