You don't know a damn thing do you? Not only do I own my own land, but I've spent more than 25 years on Active Duty!
ROFLMAO.. that's funny.. the active duty part... Care to explain how your military service is relevant to this conversation? Or were you just throwing that in there in a poor attempt to convert our appreciation for your service into a mistaken assumption of your knowledge?
In fact, the polar reverse would apply here... Since you haven't been a regular part of civilian society for such a long time, you've probably lost touch with certain aspects.
Preventing trespassing at the point of trespassing does not create a vigilante attitude. I suggest you look up the definition of vigilante. There is no way any one could sue you for doing what I suggest on your own land. Anyone that gets property damaged by this method is admitting to trespassing. Case dismissed immediately!
But you're not "preventing" the trespassing.. You're punishing the trespasser after the fact.. Perhaps you should look up the definition yourself.
No one is going to sue you for property damage resulting in their trespassing.. but if someone steps on that board of nails, you're going to be liable in a big way if they can prove you left that board of nails there.. (and that probably wouldn't be to difficult)
Your 25 years behind bars..err.. I mean in the military is showing... You might want to get back in touch with society before you go booby-trapping your property.
Personal injury and property damage are two very different subjects.
Let me give you an example.... If someones pet is attacking your chickens, you can shoot their pet and they're out of luck.. But if BillyBob himself is over there attacking or even stealing your chickens, you can not shoot him.
Lets take it down a notch.. If you see JoeBob trespassing, you can confiscate his 4 wheeler, stick it in your basement and lock it up.. He'll have to sue you to get it back.
That doesn't mean you can lock up JoeBob and just hold him for as long as you please.
The same holds true for the board of nails.. if you damage his ATV, that's his problem.. but if he gets off his ATV and steps on that nail, you're in trouble.. Hope you have good liability insurance.
Don't know about where you live, but where I do, you still need landowner permission to come after a wounded deer.
Yup.. here too.. But unless its posted and unless you've had prior reported problems with the same person, no prosecutor is going to do anything about someone trying to recover their kill. Yes, technically you'd be in the right.. but its not the way things work in the real world.
Besides, the boards would only be where the ATV's have been entering, not around the entire perimeter and such a thing is not a "booby trap". I suggest you look up the definition of booby trap. I'm starting to think that reading isn't your strong suit.
Seriously? Extrapolation and abstract thinking are not your strong points eh?
And when the guy starts pushing his ATV back across the fence line and steps on your booby-trap, hope you have a good lawyer or a lot of money...
No, you wouldn't make google news for damaging someone's property.. But you would almost certainly be there for being stupid enough to leave a booby-trap that ends up hospitalizing someone for a crime as minor as trespassing.
Is it possible that 25 years of military service has somehow dulled your regard for human suffering? Every job has its occupational hazards.
Since when would a board with some nails be a "death trap"? Are you serious? You can't possible be this stupid!
Have you ever seen a child trip and fall?? Back to the extrapolation and abstract thinking issues. Ya.. a nail sticking up on a board is probably not going to kill someone.. its 1000 times more likely to just send them to the hospital with a nail through their foot. But what if the kid steps on the nail, jerks away to grab his foot and falls onto the other nails.. One nail through his brain bucket and you're going to prison for the rest of your life. Just to stop a trespasser? And you call me a moron?
I think maybe your warning lights are all burned out.. Let me suggest you call an attorney and ask if its a smart idea to put a board of nails sticking up in front of a crossing area on your property.. ROFLMAO...