You make a wrong turn while driving and end up forced to drive onto someone else’s property in order to get back onto the road. You accidentally stumble on another person’s grass while jogging. You lose hold of your dog and have to run up to someone else’s porch to retrieve it. Is all of this really considered trespassing in Michigan? It seems harmless enough, right? So when is trespassing a crime?
According to Michigan law, generally speaking the main issues are intent and signage.
When is Trespassing is a Crime?
Trespassing may be considered illegal if the person:
- Enters someone else’s land or premises without permission after having been told not to,
- remains on someone else’s land or premises without permission after being asked to leave, according to Michigan law, or
- Enters the property of another person despite signage forbidding this action.
In other words, if someone knows he or she is forbidden from entering a certain place and does it anyway, it may be considered trespassing, especially if that person is asked to leave and does not.
Generally, common sense tends to prevail when it comes to determining whether or not someone’s action can be defined as trespassing. An honest attempt to contact the owner of a house, for example, might not be considered trespassing under normal circumstances, and stumbling onto someone else’s land by accident is usually not cause for concern. Additionally, a process server or other legally authorized individual attempting to contact a homeowner also would not be considered to be committing this crime.
What Happens if You are Charged with Trespassing
Trespassing is considered a misdemeanor punishable by 30 days in a county jail and/or a fine of $250. It also may be associated with civil penalties; the owner of the property might be able to sue someone for trespassing, even if no damage was done.
For more information about this or other misdemeanors in Michigan or for help getting out of jail, contact one of our Port Huron area bail bondsmen online or at info@bailbondsporthuron.com.
Tags: Misdemeanors in Michigan, Port Huron Bail Bondsman, Trespassing Crime