Am I legal?

[Shroud]

My friends and I have formed a group of 12 people to play paintball. We found an awesome spot in the woods to play. There aren't any houses around, and there isn't any hunting. Also there aren't any NO TRESPASSING signs anywhere. I do not know who owns the property. I am wondering if it would be illegal for us to play there, and what would happen if we were caught? There aren't any paintball arenas within 100 miles of us, so I'm sure you can understand my desperation.

Also, does anyone else have any similar experiences?

[CrashTestJimbo]

Thats the exact same boat I'm in. While I doubt it is technically legal unless you own the land, follow a few simple rules and you shouldn't have any problems. Remember that you don't own the land, so if someone comes out and tells you to leave, don't say otherwise. It is vital that you pick up after yourself, this means don't leave any empty ball containers, drink bottles, or anything else like that out there. Don't make any major modifications to the land, such as cutting down a 100 year old oak tree, or building a 3000 sqaure foot building to play in. Don't do anything illegal out there, because if you do, and the owner catches you, you're alot more likely to get kicked out, because he is the land owner and can get in trouble if something happens. Another big thing is don't use smoke bombs or anything else that makes it lookl like there is a fire, I don't think the land owner would be to happy if they had to have the fire department out there because you were using smoke bombs out there and made it look like there was a forest fire. And last, don't charge people money to play there, I think this is one of the worst. If people were playing on my land and they were making a profit off something of mine without my permission, I would be angry. So, I think that if you do, and don't do, these things, you shouldn't encounter any problems. Hope I helped.

[CrashTestJimbo]

Also, if your caught, as long as there aren't any no trespassing signs, and you didn't cause and problems, probably nothing more than a warning.

[Shroud]

Thanx Man, that was very helpful!

[CrashTestJimbo]

Anytime :)

[1Hailstorm]

Also, I would do what I could to find out who owns the land. Personally I wouldn't like it if I found out there where peaple messing around on my property. I would make a concerted effort with maybe a paper trail. and that way if you do get cought, then you can atleast say we tried to get permission but cought not find the owner. But worse case, if your not destroying any property, you may have a small fine if the owner pushes it. All bets are off if your harming the property. I am a property owner, and these are my thoughts. What ever you do, play safe.

[Llama]

What happens when some kid wanders onto the playing area and looses an eye? Whos liable?

[Spyder-Guy]

Hailstorm would you be a person who would push the fine? Just curious.

[1Hailstorm]

No I wouldn't push for a fine myself. But i can see if my property was being damaged , why somebody would. If it were to happen to me, I would most likely b!tch abit. I don't like involveing the law. The law can't talk the kids into cleaning up the area and learn how to play without screwing up the the land. Of course if I had land that could be used for a game, There would be bunkers and a nice speed ball field on it already:) Probly the only thing is, I would have to check on insurance. So I probly would charge like three bucks to play. what ever it cost to get insurence. I would want to peaple playing to be covered. safety is important to me. not to mention covering my butt in court if somebody did get hurt. But anyway, I am rambing now. So hope this answered your question.:D

[cheesabator]

dude personally this is what i would do...

find out exactly where this land is located, then go to your county court house and find out who owns this strip of land.. get into contact with this person, tell them your situation, and tell them what you would do to his or her land to build a field.. tell them you would keep it clean and keep it up... and ask if you can use it.... thats my advice

[jonnymag]

yea we play outlaw on long island @ an old camp. we don't kno who owns the land but people have been playing paintball there since montaniles and tippmann 68 specials were being produced. we've never had a problem just be respectful to passers by, dont no anything to make the sport look bad(stalking passers bay, harassing the wildlife etc...) and i dont think u will either.

jon

[.!.]

i was wondering the same thing myself.. there is a great spot not far from here which would make a great place to play

[jonnymag]

where r u from?

[.!.]

who u talking to jonny?

[jens85]

yo might want to watch what paint you use. i have some trees in my back yard that are stained pink and white. the guy that owns the proberty might not like that.

[jonnymag]

i was askin u .!.

[.!.]

i live in colorado springs

[jonnymag]

really, well then mabye you can answer my question. I've applied to the Air Force Academy, do you kno if they have a paintball team or is there atleast a field around that area?

jon

[.!.]

i dunno if they have a team... but theres 3 fields in the city

[ridebmx8311984]

for that guys initial question... who gives a shat?

[Beefullo]

The owner mostly, if I came and played in your back yard would you care?

[Stag555]

I have the same problem, there is a real field next to us in a ten min drive away, but its expensive and were only kids, we have already built a massive treehouse:D on this guys land, but he tore it down and burnt it. So I guess that meant go away since he didnt know it was us. Now we have a big paintball field out there and were now not nailing into trees so were hoping its alright, but this field is kinda close to the road so...........but, my advice to you is don't get caught and play to you do. JUST SAY TO YOURSELF IT WAS FUN WHILE IT LASTED!!!!!!;)

[Captain_Rexx]

it is not illegal unless you get caught and i am sure no one will give a rat's a** me and my friends used to do it all the time the nearest field to me is like an hour and 15 minute drive so i just play in the woods when i don't feel like driving that far

[Warfish]

i was wondering if this is illegal. We play in a woods behind a school. There are no houses in the area. And we never shoot at the school or damage the property. Its kinda in the city. Is it still illegal?

[Captain_Rexx]

i think if there are no signs and no one telling you it is against the law i think your fine as long as no damage is done to anything

[Warfish]

alright thanks.

[SiLeNt 98]

i usually play in my backyard but the feild is a speedball that sucks(we only have like 6 bunkers and no trees).SOme times we play at a feild ,,,,,we have 2 feilds both within 15 mins away but they have supper expensive paint and entry charge...sooo we play woods on the citys land at a lake.it is like a park but no one goes into the woods part so we a fine.I personaly didnt care untill one time this guy on a boat that was like 30 and drunk off his *** started to drive is boat over to shore and started to yell at us and was chasing us so my friends had no choice......he had a big *** schouvel and it is hard to run with your paint balls(2000 each:P )and he was gona hit us so my friends opend up on his lower body(hopeing not to hit is face)so he couldnt rape us or anything it was the scaryest time paintballing.HE Even looked like the kind to rape:(

[Captain_Rexx]

well that has to be one of the best paintball stories i have heard in a while never been chased by a crazy hillbilly who wanted to rape me yet and i am not looking forward to it

[SiLeNt 98]

yeah that one was unforgetable

[Joker99]

Originally posted by Captain_Rexx
i think if there are no signs and no one telling you it is against the law i think your fine as long as no damage is done to anything

Yo REXX.. get a grip... In NJ, any land that is not privately owned, is owned by the STATE.. and paintball cannot be played on State property, period.

If land is privately owned (and this applies to every state) the Owner of the Land is responsible if you are injured. Now, if you get shot in the eye, he's might not be as liable as the guy the shot you, or if you fell into a pit and broke your neck.. but rest assured he can be sued, and so can you.

[krazie662]

Originally posted by Llama
What happens when some kid wanders onto the playing area and looses an eye? Whos liable?

That's what I"m wondering

[Joker99]

Well, realistically both the guy who shot him and the owner of the land are liable under a variety of legal theories. And if it is possible that the injury results from more than one player shooting him, then anyone whose shots are related to the injury could be liable. Also, let me tell you losing an eye is a big case.

[PbPimp18]

I have some questions guys, is it illegal to play in a forrest presurve? Also, is there such thing as a too woody field like if your playing outlaw? bc at my cabin were surrounded by woods, ive never really been in them and im just curious if it could be too wooddy? (I own them, lucky me i dont have to be on the luck out for passer bys and stuff :D ) Thanks for looking!


Drew

[Joker99]

Well, let me clear this up for you.. I am not certain of the laws in Illinois, but in MOST states you DO have to be on the lookout for people wandering through, in fact, the law says you have to give people (even trespassers) notice of harmful conditions that you are aware of. Paintball can be a harmful condition if you are unaware of a game and do not have proper protection. So, if someone comes wandering through where you're playing and he gets shot in the face you're liable. So, don't think you're in the clear just because you own the land, all that means is you have permission to play there.

With respect to the wildlife preserve, it is most likely illegal to play there. The preserve is there for just that reason, to preserve the local flora & fauna (which means plants and animals). If you are tromping around spraying paint all over everything, breaking tree limbs, or trying to make bukers you will be greatly disturbing the local flora & fauna--and probably breaking several laws.

[hot~n~icy]

Well, officially, it is illegal to even be on anyone elses property, for it is tresspassing with or withouth the signs. The signs are there becuase i you are caught then, you can be prosocuted and have a harsher sentence. But, if you recieve permission to play, than it is more or less fine. Im not saying your a bad person if ou play outlaw. Hell, i do it myself. The guy that owns the acre or so we play on is God only knows where, and i dont have his/her consent to play on that land. Oh well... like te other guy said, play untill youre caught, and then think it was fun while it lasted!

[laxman5]

if you have a group of guys you play with, everyone pitch in and buy a chrono.....if a gun is shooting too hot lenses can be cracked and damage to your eyes can occur.....make sure EVERYONE has their goggles on until everyone has barrel plugs in. thats why you should really play at a real field....hopefully noone gets shot in the eye

[Joker99]

Guys, if you all have your own guns you are better off playing at a field, provided there's one near you. You can chrono your guns, so everyone is safer. Also, having refs makes the games go more smoothly and I think are more fun. Nothing sucks worse than hitting a guy, knowing he's out, but he refuses to take the walk. With refs, guys get pulled as soon as a ref verifies he's hit. Plus there's no issue about tresspassing, or breaking any local ordinances prohibiting paintball on Public Property.

[Weebs]

Where i live there is only one field and i don't like to play there that much because it sucks. So we play where ever we can find a nice spot but how ever we do have a couple of signs saying paintball is in play and i have talked with the local police and they said as long as no one complans we are fine. But if someone does then we have to leave the area, if not they will come and take our guns. Which would not be cool at all.

But yeah just play a safe distance from houses and roads. Get some boards and spraypaint on them paintball in play or something of that sort and you should be ok for the most part.

[Joker99]

Originally posted by Weebs
we do have a couple of signs saying paintball is in play and i have talked with the local police and they said as long as no one complans we are fine.... Get some boards and spraypaint on them paintball in play or something of that sort and you should be ok for the most part.

I cannot speak about the laws of Canada, but here in the U.S. you could still be sued even if you put out signs. That doesn't mean they'll win, but you can still be sued. It's just better to play in a field rather than risk someone getting injured--even a passerby.

[Weebs]

Well i was told by the local police that if someone walked into the area that we are playing in fully aware that we are there and they get injuried then there isn't much that person can do because we had signs up stating that there is paintball in play. And upon entering the area where we are playing they do so at their own risk because we have made them aware that we are playing there via signs.

[MarbsMan2715]

my next door neighbor's grandfather owns 8 acres of land that we play on and we play right in the middle of it with no chance of anybody comin out there. Its totally wooded and yes there is such thing as too wooded. The place my next door neighbor owns is too wooded. Usually there are either lots of little tiny trees that you can chop down with one swipe of a machetie(sp?) but some are pretty big trees so bring a saw if its your own land. If its not you land, leave it alone for gods sake never mess with land that isnt yours. Its acaully pretty valuable and some people might get pretty pissed so watch out. Dont worry though, if somone comes up to you make sure you are as polite as possible and stress that you are wearing proper protection and that you will leave immediatly if they dont want you to take down your feild. If they say that, Say ok we will and do it to avoid legal trouble. legal trouble will only fk u up more than not havin a place to play. It may mean that the whole city wont have a place to play. Anyways sorry for the length im out now.

[bLaCkIcE]

anyone know the laws of NJ?? cause i'm gonna play in the woods with my friends

[Irish Phreak]

Play, clean up! Thats all, Clean EVERYTHING!!! EVERYTHING up. Leave the bunkers, just washdown the area, clean up trash, and leave. Thats what my bro did, he never was found out, till he comesback with 20 welts on his body :P

FROM ME!!!:devil: