“Hikers and such are caught crossing thru homeowner’s yards all the time in my area...when informed that they are ‘trespassing’, the response is ‘Just passing thru’.”
Legally, in most places, if you don’t have a fence up and signs notifying them that trespassing is forbidden, then there’s not much you can do besides ask them to leave. You could call the cops, but without those things, the cops will not arrest someone for trespassing even if they did cross onto your property.
We live on a rural highway not far from town. Across from us was our Granny’s fruit stand which people would coast into or use as a turnaround spot. They’d also turn into our driveway and ask to use our phone.
If we shot at every stranger who knocked on our door we’d have serial killer like numbers.
Times have changed but as long as I can see their hands and their friends stay in the car, one hand will be on the doornob(with foot braced at the door) and my other hand with my pistol,creary to use.
Haven’t shot anyone yet.