A 79yo man was walking his dogs in the hills of Ballardini Ranch (Reno) as he has for 40 years. Recently the ranch put up No Tresspassing signs. Private security stopped the man and asked him to leave. He did, but returned later. The security guards held him and called police. The police issued him a $190 citation, which he intends to fight in court. The story is in the Reno Gazette Journal.
Once the signs go up you trespass at your own risk.
There is a danger to a property owner who goes a considerable period without posting such signs and allows free passage. The court may consider it to be some sort of free public passage, I don't know the correct legal terminology but I have heard of it.
Open and notorious use for a minimum of 5 years can potentially create a 'prescriptive right-of-way'. I think it also has to be hostile to the servient property owner though. Proving all of this can be the big problem for either litigant.
that it was a citation. The property owner who pressed charges will only be a witness in this particular case.
