Originally Posted by
JoeyBike
If someone slept on your front lawn AND stole your bike and spray-painted smiley faces on your garage door, I would be 100% in your corner. Trespassing is not theft or vandalism. It's a whole different set of laws. Mostly designed to prevent theft, poaching, and vandalism.
I have lost tens of thousands of dollars over the years to trespassers who have vandalized my farm, stolen equipment from my farm, damaged crops, interfered with equipment, created safety hazards, etc. People have used my farm for a variety of criminal activities. Many, if not most rural landowners can tell similar tales. YOU may only intend to pitch a tent and roll out in the roll out in the morning, but I can't tell that just from looking at you. None of that even addresses privacy, liability, or hazards you may not be aware of.
But ultimately, all the considerations come down to one simple concept. The property isn't yours. It belongs to someone else, and they haven't invited you to use it. So don't use it. If you want to use it, ask permission. This isn't complicated.