Weird article about an ATV race in Florida....Sweet Hill Thrill canceled...

[madfloridian]

after cutting down trees and clearing land on private property without even notifying or asking the landowner. The name of the event is odd enough, but to just go on people's land and cut down trees for a race just boggles my mind.

However the really interesting part is that this is not considered trespassing. Read to the bottom of the article. You have to put a sign that says don't trespass...or else it is ok to do it.

Sweet Hill Thrill ATV race canceled.

POLK CITY - An all-terrain vehicle race set for Saturday through a section of Green Swamp has been canceled after a landowner complained race organizers had cut a path for the race through his property.

The race, billed as "Sweet Hill Thrill," was scheduled to wind through a 320-acre section of an undeveloped subdivision called Groveland Ranch Acres off Sweet Hill Road.

Property owner Ben Selser said he wasn't thrilled that trees and underbrush had been cleared on his property for the race course without his permission. The small placards nailed to trees along the course and a flier posted on the Internet identify the event's sponsor as a group called Florida Trail Riders, a group whose Web site on Wednesday announced the race's cancellation.

Florida Trail Riders, established in 1973, is a statewide organization of ATV enthusiasts that claims to promote the image of ''responsible motorcyclists'' and ''to establish and maintain good rapport with private land owners, local, state and federal land management agencies."

Way to establish that rapport, guys. Just go through someone's private property.

Reading on into the article is like a revelation itself. Apparently that Green Swamp area, once considered untouchable because of the need to preserve natural resources....is owned by people from over 100 countries.

However, a check of county property records reveals the land where the race was to be held is owned by more than 100 people from all over the world.

I am not surprised, but I wonder if they are planning on developing. Everywhere else is developed here now. This is traditionally undeveloped overall. A few homes that have been built in expensive subdivisions near the Green Swamp have ended up with water in their homes.

[Squatch]

1. I think it's the same in Maine.

Unless posted, you can trespass, as long as you do not damage the land, trees, or other property.

Remember, you don't have to know who's property it is...you only have to know that it's not yours.

[madfloridian]

3. But you would think it would be different since they cut down trees.

And I loved our county commissioner who is always getting in trouble, even though he is the idol of the right wing Christians here....saying that there was nothing wrong with it.

Poor Randy, he just can't help it.

[Squatch]

4. Yeah, I'd be pissed about that.

You're welcome to walk on my land, just don't chop shit down, leave garbage, or otherwise spoil it.

[tularetom]

2. Would I have to post a notice before I shot 'em?

Or since it is in Florida could I just say I felt threatened by all the noise and felt it was necessary to defend myself?

[madfloridian]

5. Let's see, didn't we pass a shoot and kill law for everywhere?

Not just for homes? I think if someone pisses you off you can shoot them. Or did that law pass? I think it did. Would have to look it up. Dennis Baxley was pushing the bill.

[madfloridian]

6. Found about the law....just call it self defense and shoot.

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/04/06/1421202

"The Florida legislature Tuesday passed a bill allowing people to use deadly force in a public place if they have a reasonable belief that they are in danger of death or great bodily harm. We host a debate between a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association and the executive director of the Florida Coalition to Stop Gun Violence."

[tularetom]

7. We have 40 acres here and it is posted

but every fall I have at least one confrontation with armed (and sometimes intoxicated) hunters who either cannot read or think the law doesn't apply to them. My neighbor's pig was shot a couple of years ago by some asshole. I'm a lover not a fighter but sometimes I wish CA had a law like that.

[madfloridian]

8. Yep, just shoot anyone around you and say they threatened you.

In public places could be a problem.

[Squatch]

9. Ah, yes...the ol' onslaught of drunk and armed hunters.

[benEzra]

11. Doesn't allow you to shoot if you merely "feel threatened"...

The legal definition of reasonable belief is, "The facts and circumstances prompting that belief would cause a person of ordinary firmness to believe deadly force WAS necessary to prevent an imminent threat of death, great bodily harm, or sexual assault."

You can't shoot if you merely "feel threatened," Bradyite press releases to the contrary. And since self-defense is an affirmative defense (you are not innocent until proven guilty in a self-defense case), if you murder someone and call it self-defense, you'll still go to prison for murder.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=118&topic_id=122500&mesg_id=122610

[madfloridian]

12. Well, I was not really being that serious.

I guess I was being facetious. I am not very good at it.

Good explanation though, thanks.

:hi:

[hedgehog]

10. The owner(s) can sue the daylights out of this club for property damage.

What is the value of undisturbed land vs something that's been trashed for an ATV race?


Just what is it about land that is more than 20' from a house? People who wouldn't think of cutting across someone's corner lot in the suburbs haul their machines 5 miles out of town and run roughshod all over other people's property. Just because it's not near a house doesn't mean it's public land. Right now the soil on my farm is absolutely saturated from the snow melt. the last thing I need is the neighbor's kids running around on ATVs leaving ruts and ruined compacted soil behind them.