[chuck90199]

I was just walking the dogs along Oldsmar Terrece when a man and woman approached me. The lady asked where a couple of streets were, and I told her. Then she said they wanted to walk to the retention pond. I said they were in luck. At the stop sign on Oldsmar and Charlotte Court, turn left and walk about 200 feet. It's just past the pool and mailboxes. At that point the man said, "That's not the way. He doesn't know what he's talking about. We have to go the other way, take a right, and then walk through a yard between houses." I didn't know what to say as they turned and walked away from me. I lagged behind with the dogs returning to Mayflower Loop, and sure enough I saw them walk north on Mayflower, then turn and walk through someone's yard. In the year that we've been Village People I have never seen a stranger walk through someone's yard to get somewhere. Am I wrong to think they were rude and thoughtless?

[TheVillageChicken]

I would say you are wrong to give it any thought at all.

[rubicon]

chuck90199: I say the gentleman lacks tact and manners. Personally my response would have been "Well you have a very nice day."

[logdog]

They were also guilty of trespassing which is a misdemeanor crime in Florida.

Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by logdog

They were also guilty of trespassing which is a misdemeanor crime in Florida.

Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine

No, they were not.

To be guilty of trespass they must either be warned not to enter the premises and enter, or remain after being told to leave,

OR

enter the unenclosed curtilage of a dwelling with the intent to commit an offense.

Just taking a short cut across someone's property does not make them guilty of the offense of trespass.

[Mallory]

Actually it is and it isn't a trespass. We have had an ongoing situation in our neighborhood with a neighbor who rides his bike through and between our properties. My understanding he also cuts through the Mallory Hill golf courses.

To be a trespass, the person has to be observed commiting the act and be warned. In Sumter County, this basically means being observed by a deputy and being warned by the deputy.

When neighbors first identified the person, we went to his house and told the female resident of the house that we knew who was riding through our yards and wanted it stopped. We then spoke with Deputy Richard Bennett at the sub-station at 466 & Morse. Deputy Bennett was very helpful and staked out our neighborhood for a some time but never did catch the person in the act. (Sumter County Case #2013-024239).

We now have installed motion sensor video cameras and have video of the same person doing the same thing again. This satisfies the requirement of having to catch someone in the act and Sumter County Deputy J. Holloway has notifed the person that he has indeed trespassed against us. (Sumter County Case #2013-063224).

Now, we have to wait until he does it again before we can bring trespass charges. Hasn't happened yet and hopefully he's stopped. If it does the motion sensor cameras are ready.

[maryh]

We live in that area and I agree they were rude and thoughtless. I think everyone should respect another person's property.