Drive by mowing?! A rant

[ams3651]

That pvc and chain fence sounds relatively inexpensive to put up. Aside from the mowing, which I would kindly mention, I would tell them you will no longer allow them to park cars there and tell them of all the problems you have. Make a flyer and put it on the cars who park there, or put up a sign that says no parking and next time they will be towed and do it.

 

[enola]

You know there are State Police and County Sheriffs with deputies that your taxes are paying.

Try calling them, they are pretty good at convincing people to respect each other.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Then the OP would be buying this person new tires. Law does not care that they were trespassing. This is why pools and trampolines must be fenced.

And why the OP must forbid any further use of her property.

 

[speckledhen]

I had a neighbor, who doesn't even live next to me, come cut down my very best blackberry patch on my own land! Idiot thinks he still owns this place because he bought a farm and divided it up into parcels and to him, it's just briars! To me, it's FOOD. Dang rich busybody who doesn't have to scrounge for his food in the dirt like we do.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Fencing that area is on the list of things to do around here (est cost $3000). Unfortunately it is after putting on a new roof ($4000), replacing the leaking windows ($6000), repairing the antiquated plumbing ($2000) and replacing the really scary wiring ($5000). Big money projects have to happen in order and the fence is way down on the list after the things that might make the house fall down. I would LOVE to just zip out there and run some farm fencing down the property, but I do not have the resources at the moment. Leaving the grass unmowed was my cheap version of fencing as people tended to not want to walk in the tall grass. That is why I purposely DID NOT MOW IT while I am saving up for some sort of fencing.

While I am happy to fence the pasture part, I don't think I should have to fence the front yard. I already have a picket fence around most of it. Anything else will ruin the look and make the place look trashy.

I allow the local Ruritan Club to park cars there on the Fourth of July. They come out and direct traffic and clean up afterwards. They are very nice men and come out to ask me before they do it. I am happy to help out the community and the Ruritan people do great things around here. I love helping them out AND like that the elderly and infirm of the neighborhood don't have to walk forever to come see the Fourth of July festivities. I really don't want to tell them that they have to park in the back 40 and walk in. That's not being a good member of the community.

I do not allow random people to park here. I DO have a no parking sign as well as multiple no trespassing signs. The idiots out here ignore them. Yes, yes a fence would take care of that. I KNOW that. The time the kazillion people parked there it was fenced off with pipe and rope. Didn't seem to matter. It's going to take a real fence with real fence posts to keep some of the more determined people out (while oddly enough the tall grass worked perfectly). Stringing barbed wire in the tall grass is pretty mean. According to my insurance adjustor father it is also illegal, as is putting rocks along the edge that will tear up cars, metal spikes in the ground or anything else that will cause damage to people's cars or people themselves. Yes, I know that seems backwards. I feel like I should get to do anything I want to my yard AND to any car that might illegally park there. The law does not support that (according to my dad and he knows such things). If I put something in the yard that tears up an illegally parked car I am at fault.

I did not confront the night parkers as I am a single woman and live alone. Confronting a herd of drunken partiers doesn't seem like a wise choice.

I do put notes on the cars of daytime parkers (which hasn't happened since I quit mowing!!!!!).

I haven't caused trouble up until now as I realize that I am the new kid in the neighborhood and a city slicker to boot. I want to be a good neighbor and local citizen. Most of my neighbors are as nice as they can be and have been very tolerant of my city girl ignorance.

The Ruritan Club does a lot of good out here and if I can help out I am happy to do so. That's also why I haven't called the sheriff over any of this. I did go over and talk to one of them when they were parked at the ballfield. He said I could call if needed. I just haven't wanted to be That Person, you know? I'll talk to the Ruritan leaders and see what we can work out. Truthfully I just needed to vent last night as I was very sad about the loss of my flowers and tall grass.

Thanks to those that made helpful comments. I know a fence is needed and just can't afford it right now. To those that made snarky comments and the real sweetie who told me to put my "big girl panties on"

They are on firmly and always have been. Some of us just try to get along with our neighbors and not be hateful.

 

[speckledhen]

I agree, that comment was entirely UNhelpful, City Girl.

I think I'd get some of that landscapers neon orange paint and paint a circle around the perimeter, then in the center, the words, STAY OUT, PRIVATE PROPERTY! or DO NOT MOW!

 

[ams3651]

sounds like your only options at this point are calling the police and a tow truck if you already have no parking signs up. Ive seen signs around here that say No parking, we tow.

 

[NRacine]

About the parking, I would probably call the sheriff or police, whoever has jurisdiction. It's your land, what you say goes. If people can't respect you, then they deserve a visit from the authorities. I'm sure after one time of a sheriff telling people to move their cars, word will spread.

I would also find out who cut your flowers down and tell them that they are absolutely not allowed to do whatever they want on your property. One warning, and then call the police/sheriff.

That's just me, maybe I'm a jerk. I don't care if you live next to the ball field, you pay the mortgage and you deserve to have respect for your property.

 

[debilorrah]

Before we moved here, we had a neighbor that I would find in my yard at 6 am pulling weeds and watering. We had 1 acre and a VERY high water bill. There was a reason things were dry

She used to do that all the time. Very strange.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Isn't it amazing what people think they have the right to do? Seriously, if they are just wanting to do chores I can make a list of stuff that I actually WANT done.